Friday, October 20, 2006

And now. . . . .the news from the EEF
Press report: "Egypt police bust antiquities traffickers"
http://metimes.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20061016-042000-5671r

"Egyptian police have broken up a trafficking ring that was trying
to sell stolen and highly valued ancient busts of Pharaohs
[incl. a "bust" of Ramses II] and mythical figures [gods]. "
Other reports speak of "five small statuettes":
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/15/africa/ME_GEN_Egypt_Antiquities.php


[Submitted by Michael Tilgner]
Press report: "Miroslav Verner, Egyptologist and Professor
at Charles University"
http://snipurl.com/zsye

[http://www.czech.cz/en/zpravy/news_detail.aspx?id=5393-Miroslav-
Verner%2c-Egyptologist-and-Professor-at-Charles-University]
"Egypt's ancient cultural treasures are under serious threat, not only
because of theft and development but because of Egypt's worsening
environment. Why makes Egyptology such a fascinating field of study?
What kind of challenges can Egyptologists expect in the coming years,
and what plans do Czech Egyptologists have for the future? What did
the ancient Egyptians give to Europe and the world? To answer these
and other questions, we bring you an interview with Miroslav Verner,
one of the most renowned experts on ancient Egypt."

Press report: "Tests begin to shed light on mummy in Barnum Museum"
http://snipurl.com/zb2u

[http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/10/11/t
ests_begin_to_shed_light_on_mummy_in_barnum_museum/]
More on the tests on the mummy in the Barnum Museum [see
EEFNEWS 424].
"CT scans showed evidence of arthritis in the pelvic area, which is
common with women who have given birth. The examination
showed no external genitals, another indication the mummy
may have been female, he said. However, the remains were
severely dried out, making a definitive identification of the
gender difficult."
-- Another press report on this: "The Mummy Talks"
http://snipurl.com/zszj

[http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-mummy.artoct
18,0,6859829.story?coll=hc-headlines-life]

Joel D.Irish, A 5,500 Year-Old Artificial Tooth rom Egypt: A Historical
Note, in: International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants, vol. 19,
pp. 645-647 (2004)
http://www.quintpub.com/userhome/omi/omi_19_5_Irish_2.pdf

"Archaeologic excavations at a Neolithic cemetery near Gebel Ramlah,
Egypt yielded, among other finds, a life-size shell carving of a human
tooth. Based on its spatulate crown and large conical root, the tooth
must closely emulates a maxillary incisor. The crown's lingual and
labial surfaces are suggestive of a left central incisor, whereas the
occlusal view is more reminiscent of a left lateral incisor. The
present report details the tooth's appearance and provides
several interpretations concerning its function, including the
possibility that it was intended to be a dental implant."

The "Echoes of Eternity" website includes most of the Egyptian art
currently displayed in the Nelson-Atkins galleries:
http://echoesofeternity.umkc.edu/index.htm

At times the entries do not only give information about the
individual objects, but also background information (and
bibliography) about the class of artefacts the objects
belong to; see e.g. about shabtis:
http://echoesofeternity.umkc.edu/Shabti.htm