Saturday, December 13
2:30 pm EST
Penn Museum, Classroom L2
In-person; RSVP required for workshop: https://forms.gle/FTwpThdMhwV7gPhS6
Talk and Hands-on Workshop
Holiday Party to follow!

Speakers: Isabella Pilla and Dr. Jane Hill

Title: More Than a Cosmetic Fix: How Experimental Archaeology Can Address the Issue of Burial Goods in the Museum Setting. Talk and Workshop

Abstract:
The Egyptian mummy as a cultural artifact has for more than a century been a focal point of interest within the Egyptological community and the museum-going public. In more recent years, however, the public has begun to raise concerns over the display of human bodies as museum objects. Is there another way to share with the public the richness of Egyptian funerary belief and tradition without invading the bodies of the individuals who were at the center of these practices? In this talk and workshop the authors will argue that by using the imaging, scanning, and 3-D printing technologies available to us today, it is possible to both scientifically study Egyptian mummification practices and share those findings with the public while still respecting the humans who provide us that information.

Lecture attendees will be invited to create their own Predynastic Egyptian style cosmetic palette. All the necessary tools and materials will be provided, but we ask that you RSVP (https://forms.gle/FTwpThdMhwV7gPhS6) for this event to be sure we have enough materials!

Speaker Bios:
Dr. Jane Hill
Dr. Jane Hill holds a doctorate in Egyptian Archaeology from the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. She also holds masters degrees in anthropology and art history/Egyptology from the University of Memphis. She has excavated and done epigraphic work on archaeological projects at the sites of Giza, Abydos, el-Amra, Saqqara, and Karnak Temple in Luxor Egypt. At el-Amra she discovered evidence of a Predynastic Egyptian town and cult center. In the U.S., Dr. Hill has excavated Native American sites of the Mississippian Period in the southeast region. Currently Dr. Hill teaches anthropology, archaeology and Egyptian Archaeology at Rowan University where she serves as curator of the Museum of Anthropology at Rowan University (MARU). Her research interests include co-development of major elite cemeteries and urbanism in Upper Egypt’s formative period, and the development of Egyptian administrative and writing systems.

Isabella Pilla
Isabella is an emerging museum professional and recent graduate from Rowan University, where she earned a dual degree in Anthropology and Psychology. During her time as a research assistant at Rowan’s Museum of Anthropology, she curated a project to explore the ancient Egyptian material culture and public engagement through archaeology. Her research focuses on the ethical concerns of ancient mummified displays and the application of experimental archaeological to research ancient artifacts in a non-invasive manner. Isabella currently works at Edelman Fossil Park and Museum where she continues to support educational programming and visitor engagement.

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Refreshments are served beginning at 2pm. The ARCE-PA Holiday Party will follow the workshop. You do not have to attend the workshop or party to attend the lecture.

Lectures are FREE to ARCE-PA chapter members, $7 for University of Pennsylvania Museum Members and UPenn Staff and Faculty, $5 for Students with ID, and $10 for the general public.

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The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1948 by a consortium of educational and cultural institutions to support research on all aspects of Egyptian history and culture, foster broader knowledge among the general public, and strengthen American-Egyptian cultural ties. The ARCE Pennsylvania Chapter (ARCE-PA) is the local branch of the national institution. We host monthly events including scholarly lectures, Egyptian-themed workshops, social events, and guided tours of the Penn Museum’s Egyptian galleries. For more information or to learn about the perks of membership, please send an e-mail to info@arce-pa.org, or visit our website at www.arce-pa.org.