Publication about excavation comes out

Kristin South spearheaded a publication that evaluates an important aspect of our excavation. She continues to push forward in important research on our artifacts. The publication is beautifully done. It is

South, Kristin H. and Kerry Muhlestein, “Regarding Ribbons: The spread and use of narrow purpose-woven bands in Late Roman Egyptian burials,” in Drawing the threads together: Textiles and footwear of the 1^st millennium AD from Egypt, Antoine De Moor, Cäcilia Fluck, Petra Linscheid, eds. (Tielt, Belgium: Lanoo, 2013), 56-73.

Teaching Egypt to Elementary Schools

Dr. Muhlestein taught 4 classes of 6th graders about ancient Egypt at Orchard Elementary.

Team attends conference

Team members Kristin South and Catherine Taylor along with a student, Elisabeth Berghouts, attended a conference on ancient Textiles in Belgium. There they worked with others who have collections similar to ours as part of their efforts to find comparable pieces as we begin to create a catalog of the artifacts that have come from our excavation.

Teaching about Egypt

Dr. Muhlestein spent several hours teaching two different social studies/socratic methods classes about ancient Egypt at Maeser Prep Academy.

Another Good Interview

I just finished an interview with Martin Tanner of KSL Radio. We spoke about my books the Essential Old Testament Companion and Return Unto Me, my Book of Abraham lectures, and the Book of Abraham in general. He was great to work with. He took my wife and I on a tour of KSL studios beforehand, which we enjoyed. The interview will be broadcast on KSL radio (1160 am 102.7 fm in Utah) this Sunday at 6:30 am, 10 am, and 9:30 pm. When it is archived I will post the link here. Hope you all enjoy!

Conference Possibility

I have been contacted about participating on a conference about children in the Graeco-Roman world. I think our excavation can contribute a lot of valuable information about children in Roman Egypt, so I am excited. The fact that the conference will be in Sydney, Australia doesn't hurt either.

We will have to keep an eye on this one and see if it turns out to be a good thing. I'll keep you posted.

Great Evening

Tonight Julianne and I were able to attend an annual dinner held for General Authorities Emeritus. What a delight and pleasure. We were able to visit with so many amazing men and women. What power and how many years of serving God and mankind. It was a delightful and impressive group.

The dinner was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City on the 10th floor.



We sat next to Elder Neuenschwander and had the most fascinating conversations about his work as a Patriarch in Russia and eastern Europe. The work he puts in and the blessings people receive from that service is amazing. Because my oldest son and daughter just received their patriarchal blessings it was all the more interesting to us.

The evening ended with my giving about a 25 minute lecture on the excavation and about 20 minutes of questions and answers.

Overall it was an amazing dinner. We loved it!

Exhibit

The exhibit about our excavation in BYU's Joseph Smith Building is looking good. I think we might need to do a few repairs, but we should soon be able to hold an open house and officially open the thing. It looks great!

More Lectures

Dr. Muhlestein continues to lecture at Education week, speaking on the history of God's covenant with Abraham and covenant people as an example of God's love and patience, and Egyptian elements of the Exodus story as well as how that story demonstrates the power of the Atonement.

He also lectured on the BYU Egypt Excavation project at a dinner for Emeritus General Authorities and had a wonderful time there.

New Book comes out for Education Week

Dr. Muhlestein's new book, The Essential Old Testament Companion is in the BYU Bookstore starting August 19th, during Education week.

Lectures

Dr. Muhlestein has been doing lectures at Education week about God's unending love as attested in the Old Testament.

More Publications by team members

Dr. Gee has an article comparing Abraham and Idrimi come out: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=22&num=1&id=652

Dr. Muhlestein publishes an article on the cultural background of JS Papyrus I: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=22&num=1&id=651

Kerry Muhlestein and Bethany Jensen, “The Mummy Portraits of Fag el-Gamous,” in Studia Antiqua 12/1 (2013), 51-64.

Professional Presentation: “Excavating a Lost Snefru Pyramid,” Presented at the ARCE [American Research Center in Egypt] DC chapter at Johns Hopkins University 

Dr. Blumell publishes:
“The Date of P.Oxy. XLIII 3119, the Deputy-Prefect Lucius Mussius Aemilianus, and the Persecution of Christians by Valerian and Gallienus,” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 186 (2013): 111–13. 
“Two Coptic Ostraca in the Brigham Young University Collection” Chronique d’Égypte 88 (2013): 182–87.



 

Lectures of team members are now online

Three of our team members recently had their lectures at a symposium on Joesph Smith and the Ancient World posted on youtube. You can find them at:

John Gee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNJMJGQKLag

Lincoln Blumell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNJMJGQKLag

Kerry Muhlestein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzP0iuNLa10

Great ARCE Meeting

This last weekend was the annual ARCE (American Research Center in Egypt) meeting. Director Muhlestein attended. There were a number of papers presented that are helpful for understanding our excavation. He met with several people who are interested in working with us next year and it looks like we will have an incredible study season next year, especially for our bio-archaeological aspects.

He and Dr. Benson (who could not come because of his day job) also did a presentation on our work or reconstructing the Seila pyramid, and compared it to Meidum, and even tied in the Giza and Abu Rowash pyramids. The lecture was well attended and well received.

Dr. Muhlestein also purchased several books that contain important information for our excavation. All in all it was an excellent meeting for the excavation.

Congratulations to a team member!

Team member Lincoln Blumell's book receives a smashing review. See it at

http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8623&CodePage=8623