Overview
Our work in Egypt has spanned thirty years and more than twenty sites, but this year’s discovery of the tomb of Tutmosis II is one of the most exciting. For twelve years the team has been painstakingly excavating and recording the tombs of the Theban mountain, to reveal the ancient lives of forgotten royal women and loyal retainers but we were not expecting to find the burial place of a king.
This illustrated talk will describe how, while recording the tomb of a royal woman, we came across the entrance to a much larger tomb, with steps going down into the base of the cliff. What we found there produced two surprises; the remains of a king’s tomb and evidence for wetter conditions in the Sahara Desert at the time of Tutmosis II. We learned that ancient rainfall and flooding meant that the king’s body was rescued soon after its interment, to be re-buried elsewhere. As we investigate both tomb and climate change further, one mystery remains… Where did they take the king next?
Speaker
Dr Judith Bunbury is a geologist working with archaeologists to explore evidence for ancient landscape and climate change in Egypt and elsewhere. In addition to her research articles, she is author of two books on the Nile.
Based in the Department of Earth Sciences she has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as taking a turn as Senior Tutor of St Edmund’s College. Now at Wolfson, she is combining her research interests with the role of Tutor for non-doctoral postgraduate students. She also champions well-being and postgraduate matters, on behalf of all the colleges, as associate secretary of the Senior Tutors’ Committee.
Details
This event is open to all and free to attend - .
Access
This event will take place in the Gatsby Room on the first floor of the Chancellor's Centre. It has step-free access with a lift and there is an accessible toilet located each floor of the building.
