EGYPTIAN
ARCHAEOLOGY
Changes in the air The last issue of EA went to Society’s Survey of Memphis, press during the momentous is teaching this autumn, on events in Egypt this spring behalf of the EES, at the and at that time we were renowned field school run unclear as to what effect the by Ancient Egypt Research popular revolution might have Associates (www.aeraweb.org/), on archaeological missions directed by Mark Lehner. working in the country. Courses are usually taught at However, our colleagues in the Giza but this year will also be at Egyptian Supreme Council of Mitrahina (ancient Memphis) Antiquities did their utmost, to give students experience in at a time when the future working on settlement sites. of their own organisation Penny Wilson had to was uncertain, to ensure that The visit of the British Ambassador to Cairo to the EES London Office postpone Delta Survey work archaeological activity did not on 1 June 2011. Left to right: Chris Naunton, Karen Exell, James Watt, in the region of Lake Burullos Patricia Spencer and Roo Mitcheson grind to a halt. As shown by until 2012 but was able to the reports in ‘Digging Diary’ (pp.25-28) most missions carry out a study season at Sais in the spring (see p.25) that were due to work in the spring of 2011 were able to and has returned to the site this autumn. Eva Lange do so, though some did curtail their activities and a few and her team at Tell Basta (see pp.7-9) are continuing postponed their seasons. More detailed reports of recent their excavation and epigraphic work - now as a joint EES funded fieldwork, research and other activities can expedition of the EES, the University of Göttingen and be found on pp.3-11. the SCA. We are very pleased to be associated officially As most readers of EA will be aware the Egyptian once again with this major Delta site, which was one of Ministry of State for Antiquities which was created in the first investigated by the Society in the late nineteenth the last days of the previous government has since been century. In January 2012 Angus Graham and the Theban abolished, along with the accompanying ministerial Land and Waterscapes team will be returning to Luxor to office held by Zahi Hawass, and the Secretary General take up their survey work where they had to break off of the Supreme Council for Antiquities is once again earlier this year (see EA 38, p.3 and this issue p.25) and responsible to the Ministry of Culture. All who have the the Delta Survey teams will also be back in the field in interests of archaeology in Egypt at heart will wish our the spring. Reports on EES fieldwork as it happens will SCA colleagues well in their efforts to increase security continue to be posted on our website: www.ees.ac.uk. at sites, museums and magazines. This was an issue which Closer to home, the Society has seen a number of featured strongly during discussions at the joint SCA/EES significant changes, with the departure in August of our Delta Workshop, held in Cairo at the end of March (see Development Director, Victoria Perry, to take up a post the opposite page). with a charity which is based nearer to her home. Vicky Several EES expeditions are now back in the field had a major impact on our work in the time she was with in Egypt for their regular summer/autumn seasons. us and we all wish her every success in her new post. Joanne Rowland and her team who work in Minufiyeh Vivian Davies, who had served on the editorial board governorate in the Nile Delta have been in Egypt since of EA since its first issue in 1991 decided to stand down the middle of August, surveying a number of sites, since he is retiring at the end of 2011 as Keeper of Ancient carrying out remote-sensing at Quesna and running a field Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum. All his fellowschool for Egyptian archeologists. Jo’s updates from the editors would like to thank Vivian for his much-valued season can be read at http://minufiyeh.tumblr.com/. input and advice over the years. The Society’s Vice-Chair, While she was in Cairo at the start of her season, Jo John J Johnston, has joined the editorial board, bringing visited the new British Ambassador, James Watt, who is a different perspective to discussions with his wide range very supportive of the Society’s work in Egypt. Before he of interests within the subject. left the UK to take up his post in June, Mr Watt visited Finally, I am myself retiring as Director of the EES the Society’s London Office to discuss our plans for the at the end of the year but will retain my ‘publications’ future and was particularly interested in the training responsibilities to continue to work for the Society on a initiatives for young Egyptian archaeologists with which part-time basis and I am delighted that this new post will the Society is now involved. In addition to the field include continuing as Editor of Egyptian Archaeology. school at Quesna, David Jeffreys, the Director of the PATRICIA SPENCER