Excavating Ancient Egypt

fifty Years of Archaeological Memories

Spencer, Jeffrey

The excavation of archaeological sites in Egypt involves much more than the careful recovery and documentation of monuments and small finds. These activities take place in the context of a wide range of logistic and other tasks necessary for their initiation and smooth operation, an aspect of the work generally absent from scientific reports. This book describes this background to operating an archaeological project, with the day-to-day preoccupations of administration, acquisition of equipment and provisions, organizing transport and arranging accommodation. 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.