Excavating Ancient Egypt: Fifty Years of Archaeological Memories

This book is an account of the discoveries, experiences and anecdotes from a half century of archaeological fieldwork in Egypt. As an alternative to the exclusively academic reports of excavations, it describes the background to operating an archaeological project, with the day-to-day preoccupations of administration, acquisition of equipment and provisions, organizing transport and arranging accommodation. The inclusion of these topics provides a wider view of what is involved in excavating in Egypt. The story begins with experiences as a student on an excavation in the 1970s, then illustrates the transition to directing projects, including a ten-year programme of fieldwork in Middle Egypt followed by a longer period in the Nile Delta.

Mention of the key discoveries made over the years shows how evidence is recovered from the ground, with all the associated problems and procedures, to assemble new insight into the history of a site. Living in a small rural village for months and interacting with the local population reveals much about the nature of village life in the Nile Delta and the hospitality of the people, giving insight into the local culture.