Interview with Miroslav Verner.

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.

I might suggest that archaeologists are born rather than made. By that, I mean that from childhood, an archaeologist digs for the truth and has a strong desire to uncover hidden mysteries. But how could a budding archaeologist find information about Egypt 50 years ago, when television was still in its infancy, the Internet didn’t yet exist and travel was virtually impossible?

I must say that my interest in Egyptology developed over time. As a boy (not that I was any exception here), I was attracted to anything adventurous and mysterious: decaying ruins, castles and the discovery of unknown secrets. I was also impressed by travelogues as a child and always insisted that my parents buy me any available, including books about famous Czech travellers (Emil Holub, the travelogues of Zikmund and Hanzelka, as well as others) — quite simply, anything I could get my hands on...

Miroslav Verner, Egyptologist and Professor at Charles University, Prague Daily Monitor, Czech Republic, August 18, 2006.

A Japanese research team has successfully removed a mural in an ancient Egyptian tomb at the World Heritage site of Saqqara, using a technique used on Japanese murals, so that conservation work can be done on it, team members said Friday.

The Kansai University team removed the plaster mural from the underground burial place of Princess Idut, which dates back to around 2360 BC. The mural depicts birds, food and beer in colour and has hieroglyphs engraved in it.

In the rare removal of a fragile plaster mural, the team glued rayon paper with resin over parts of the mural to be removed, using a type of seaweed paste to protect them from breaking, and carefully separated the plaster from the rock wall with knives.

The technique was used in removing a mural at the Kitora tomb in Asuka, Nara Prefecture, which dates from the late seventh century to the early eighth century, but the Idut mural is the first case of such removal abroad, according to experts...

Japanese team succeeds in removing Egyptian mural for conservation, Kyodo News via Yahoo! Asia News, October 27, 2006.

Egyptian antiquities authorities revealed early last week they caught ancient tomb raiders red-handed, leading them to ancient remains never thought to have existed in the area. The grave robbers launched their dig one summer night two months ago but were apprehended. Unaware of their finds, they helped authorities uncover the first necropolis ever found dedicated to dentists. They found the site early this month in Sakkara while digging the area located west of the First Dynasty tombs.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) announced that the necropolis includes three tombs built of mud brick and limestone. The first belongs to the chief dentist of the king E Emery who served during the reign of the Fourth Dynasty. It includes an entrance leading to a rectangular hall with two L-shaped chapels decorated with offering and daily life scenes.

Hawass said, “The most important scene is the curse inscription engraved on the false door showing a crocodile and a snake. Such an inscription was typically known in the old kingdom in order to scare off anyone who may enter the tomb,” he told the eTurbo News...

Ancient Site the Tomb Robbers in Egypt Stumbled Upon, Hazel Heyer, TravelVideo.TV, Ontario, Canada, October 31, 2006.

TOMB RAIDERS FIND PHARAOHS’ DENTISTS

Thieves last week led archaeologists to the graves of three royal dentists, located near to the Step Pyramid of King Djoser, believed to be Egypt's oldest pyramid...

TOMB RAIDERS FIND PHARAOHS’ DENTISTS, The Voice, UK, November 01, 2006.