Today’s presentation….
An ornate gold pectoral was one of the many treasures discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and his team in Tutankhamun’s famous tomb, KV62. Although perhaps not one of the most celebrated pieces from Tutankhamun’s trove, it is perhaps one of the most interesting and thought-provoking and as explained in today’s talk, can take us to the most unexpected places….
For many years, the translucent green scarab at the centrepiece of this pectoral was assumed to be carved from a piece of green chalcedony - a fairly common stone which in other colours and forms, is probably better known as agate. In 1996, this all changed when it was realised that the scarab was carved from a far more exotic material, which is known only from a limited area of desert west of the Nile, close to the border with Libya.
The mystery is how had this apparently unremarkable piece of rare stone found its way to the Nile Valley in the New Kingdom, and why was it so admired by the ancient Egyptians that it was used as a finely carved centrepiece for a prominent item of royal regalia? Surely, neither the royal court nor the craftsmen of New Kingdom Egypt could have known what this strange material really was?
Drawing from his experience working as a geologist in the construction industry, Colin was first attracted to ancient Egypt by the controversy over the age of the Great Sphinx. Other geologists had suggested that the weathering and erosion of the Sphinx could tell us a great deal about its age and from those initial investigations, Colin began to delve deeper into the world of Egyptology.
He was invited to join the Saqqara Geophysical Survey Project, to map the soils and rocks of that incredible site and has since enjoyed working with AWT on tours in Egypt, Morocco and Jordan.
Over the years, he has published a number of research papers, and as his interest deepened, he began to focus on the fascinating geology of Egypt. His first book “A Gift of Geology” was published in January 2023 has he has set up his own website www.giftofgeology.co.uk to make his work readily available. He’s since been working on a second book – bringing things full circle, to focus on the issues surrounding the age of the Sphinx.
We have an exciting and diverse series of lectures
covering a wide range of topics and these are listed below
We are having two evening Zoom on-line meeting in April & Sept
𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 2025 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼 𓇼
January 13th , 2pm
Dr Joanne Backhouse (University of Liverpool)
Nefetari, For whom the sun shines: Queenship in Ramesside Egypt
February 10th, 2pm
Dr Jacky Finch (University of Manchester : Alumni)
‘Are you sitting comfortably?’
Ancient Egyptian medical matters
March 10th, 2pm
Dr Kath Slinger (University of Manchester)
Tomb Families: Private Tomb Distribution in the New Kingdom Theban Necropolis
Wednesday April 2nd Zoom 7pm
Dr Heidi Köpp-Junk
(Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental
Studies)
Water, dewatering systems, wells, baths and waterspouts – latest excavation results
from Athribis and Tuna el Gebel.
May 12th, 2pm
Dr Roger Forshaw (University of Manchester)
The Life and Times of Hesyre, the First Recorded Physician and Dental Surgeon in History
June 9th, 2pm
Colin Reader (Independent Researcher)
Tutankhamun: The Extraterrestrial Connection
July 14th, 2pm
Sarah Shepherd (Independent Researcher)
Tourism and Travel in the Great War
August 11th, 2pm
Dr Judith Corbelli (University of Liverpool: Alumni)
Cremation in Alexandria: Cinerary Urns of the Greco-Roman Period
Monday Sept 1st Zoom 7pm
Dr Peter Lacovara
(Director of the Ancient Egyptian Archaeology and Heritage Fund)
Deir el-Ballas and the Hyksos Expulsion
October 13th, 2pm
Dr Paula Tutty (Independent Researcher)
The Discovery of the Nag Hammadi Codices – Christianity’s Lost Legacy
November 10th , 2pm
Dr Campbell Price (University of Manchester)
Senenmut’s Unconventional Afterlife
December 8th, 2pm
Presidential lecture/AGM/Christmas buffet
Dr Ashley Cooke
BOOK SALES
At each Society meeting held in Mayer Hall a selection of Egyptology books is available for sale at very reasonable prices.