International conference «Achievements and Problems of Modern Egyptology», which was organized by the Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Sciences, took place in Moscow on September 29-October 2, 2009.

Its main goal is to share experience between scholars of different countries and to discuss the latest achievements in the field of Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology, study of history, culture, religion and languages of Ancient, Graeco-Roman and Coptic Egypt.

More than 50 leading Egyptologists and Archaeologists living and working all over the world, including directors of European and American Archaeological institutions, took part in it.

The ceremony of the formal opening of the Conference was arranged on September, 29. The conference started with an opening speech by vise-president of Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander D. Nekipelov, dedicated to the history, development and achievements of Russian archaeology in Egypt, from the research of Vladimir Golenischev to today. It continued with speeches by a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Dr. Zahi Hawass, who focused on recent discoveries and the preservation of Egyptian heritage.

After that Dr. Galina Belova, director of the Centre of Egyptological Studies of the RAS, made a lecture on research and excavations at Kom Tuman, Memphis. Soil investigations have made it clear that the Nile in the past flowed near to the excavated area, making Tom Tuman one of the “islands of Memphis”.

Diana Liesegang from the Heidelberg University came out with “The Power of the Image”, an investigation on how ancient Egyptian images influenced the population of Egypt. Dr. Ann Macy Roth from New York University presented an investigation into the Old Kingdom cemeteries and settlements next, looking at the “cities of the dead” during their construction process, and afterwards as sites of human activity rather than simply a necropolis.

Dr. Kerry Muhlenstein, Professor of the Birgham Young University, stated that it's not just the Jewish religion that adopted some aspects of Egyptian religion in the Bible, but that Egyptians themselves borrowed biblical personalities and stories.

Dr. Irene Fostner-Mueller, Director of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Cairo, and Dr. Erhart Graefe, Professor of the Muenster University, spoke about excavations at Avaris and TT (Theban Tomb) 320 respectively. Then Dr. Eleonora Kormysheva gave a presentation on the Russian Archaeology Mission at Giza, which combines geophysical studies carried out before the excavation, GPR research and soil and rock examination.

Then followed lectures by Dr. Laura Pantalacci, Director of the Institut français d’archéologie orientale, spoke about work in Qift-Coptos, Dr. Cornelius von Pilgrim, and Dr. Wolfgang Mueller made lectures about excavating the different layers of Aswan and finding of a great fortification construction that guarded it and its banks that was joined with the Elefantina fortress.

The first lecture of the second day was given by Dr. Nigel Strudwick, who focused on the interaction of tourists and local inhabitants at Luxor and the main historical monuments at Thebes, and the challenges facing archaeologists to carry out meaningful research in a modern environment. Dr Strudwick attempted to resolve some of the issues facing the city and to reconcile the necessity of tourism to the area with harm being done to the advancement of archaeology.

Next was the lecture of Dr. Dieter Eigner, who reported on the work of a joint Russian-Dutch excavation mission at the eastern Nile Delta village of Tell Ibrahim Awad. Then Dr Laurent Bavay from Universite Libre de Bruxelles spoke about the rediscovery of the lost Theban tomb C3.

Dr. Marilina Betro working as a Professor at the University of Pisa made a lecture on the progress of her team's virtual replica of Theban Tomb 14. Virtual reality provides a powerful tool for stimulating excavation, testing different hypotheses, reconstructing contrasting views of the site and for sharing new information and perspectives with colleagues all over the world. The TT 14 virtual reconstruction began with cartography studies, upon which the models of the area were built. Next came 3D laser-scanning, from whence the site's high-resolution model was obtained. Another Theban tomb, TT23 - the tomb of Thay, Royal Scribe of Royal Dispatchers at the time of Merenptah, was then discussed by Sergej Ivanov, Research Fellow of CES RAS.

Dr Samekh Iskander from New York University's Abydos Project presented the latest up-to-date architectural plans and observations of the phases of construction for the Temple of Ramesses II, as well as recently developed epigraphy techniques.

The lecture of Dr. Edwin Brock from the American Research Centre in Egypt made a lecture on restoration of the sarcophagus of Ramesses VI. Two sarcophagi of the 20th Dynasty king were broken during a robbery, leaving most of their fragments scattered along the burial chamber. Between 2000 and 2003 the inner sarcophagus was restored by a project funded by the ARCE, yet scientists are still searching for some of the missing fragments.

The third day started with a report by Dr. Rosario Pintaudi of the Instituto Papirologico "G. Vitelli" in Florence dedicated to the latest results of archaeological campaigns at El Sheikh'Abadah-Antinoupolis in the Nothern Necropolis and the southern part of the town. The topic of excavation results continued was continued by Dr. Esther Pons Mellado from the National Archaeology Museum of Madrid, whose lecture was dedicated to the work of a joint Egyptian-Spanish mission in the archaeological site of Oxyrhynchus at El Bahnasa.

Dr. Alexander Belov working at CES RAS and the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology presented his lecture about research carried out with Dr. David Fabre on underwater studies of the shipwrecks of Heracleon-Thonis, which is located on the West part of the Nile Delta. In ancient times Heracleon served as a custom and border post, controlling access to the Canopic Channel and supervising foreign ships. The great number of shipwrecks found here shows that trading and travelling activity was exceptionally intense.

Dr. Paul Nicholson from Cardiff University then challenged some generally accepted theories by Flinders Petrie on the creation of glass in Egypt, and stressed that the view that glass was not a uniform product which was either made in or imported to Egypt is over-simplistic. New Kingdom Egypt was certainly not entirely dependent on import - it produced and exported different types of glass on a large scale.

Dr. Svetlana Malykh from the Institute of Oriental Studies at RAS observed the ceramic materials found by a Russian archaeological mission in Giza Necropolis, which could provide researchers with new information about the commercial relations between Memphite regions and other Egyptian sites, and even foreign traders.

Dr. Emanuele Ciampini (University Ca Foscari, Venice) next presented evidence for comparisons between Pharaonic Egypt and Persian Culture. A great ideological solution used in Egypt under Persian rule, was introducing the name of the Persian ruler in traditional phrases for pharaonic inscriptions, as an expression of legitimate power

Then Dr. Sara Caramello from Egyptian Museum of Turin made a presentation dedicated to ancient physicians, who served as luxury gifts for foreign rulers. Evidence for this “trade in medics” was found in the Tel el-Amarna and Bogazkoy archives. The quality of Egyptian medicine was well-known across the ancient world and urged the rulers of other countries to ask Egyptian kings to send them some specialists.

The first part of the fourth day was dedicated to the excavations and research of Fayoum and started with a lecture of Dr. Ian Shaw from the University of Liverpool about new fieldwork at the Medinet el-Gurob Harem Palace town. Dr Wlodzimirz Godlewski from Warsaw University's Institute of Archaeology then gave his lecture on excavating Christian cemeteries at Deir Malak Gubrail monastery and at the Church of Archangel Michael. Dr. Alexei Krol, Deputy Director of CES RAS, reported the results of seven seasons of archeological and anthropological work at Deir el-Banat by a joint Russian-American mission (CES RAS alongside the Institute for Bioarcheology, San Francisco). The topic was continued by Dr. Anton Voytenko, who presented his preliminary report on Coptic burial customs at Deir el-Banat.

Dr. Joanne Rowland (Royal Museums of Art and History in Bruxelles) started the second session of the fourth day with her lecture about geophysical survey and sub-surface investigations at Quesna (mausoleum and Falcon necropolis) and Kom el Ahmar (Minuf) conducted with Dr. Kristian Strutt from the University of Southampton. The research started in 2005, with the aim of properly mapping the site and finding the underground remains of mortuary, sacred and domestic contexts. This survey combined different techniques: magnetometry, topographic mapping, drill coring, GPR, laser scanning and resistance tomography (in Kom el-Ahmar).

Dr. Agnesa Kukela from the University of Latvia in Riga showed how technology can help to investigate and preserve the Step Pyramid of Djoser. 3D scanning and georadars helped to find objects and collect information about them. The quadrant system was use to record and place the collected data. After all data (dimensions, location, context, descriptions and assumptions about the object's origin and use) was collected, it was put into a specially developed database and was linked through GIS with geo-referenced environment and scanning results. The database is oriented classificatory, using Vienna System and Petrie's classes for pottery classification. The information is also accessible via a database report which can be formed by answering simple questions. The studies also show the impacts of weather, such as deformations, earthquakes and floods, revealing the most fragile parts of the Step Pyramid construction which need additional support.

Then Dr. Caroline Wilkinson of the University of Dundee, Dr. Chris Rynn of the University of Manchester and the Medical University of Vienna's Dr. Fabian Kanz gave a joint presentation of their facial reconstructon of Arsinoe, Cleopatra's sister.

The Conference ended with the few presentations on life and history of Coptic population of Egypt. The most interesting was a lecture of Dr. Meyer, who spoke about the main peculiarities of the Gospel of Judas and about the restoration of the missing fragments of the text.

More details may be found here. We're very grateful to Darya Kazanskaya for her patient attendance at the Conference, photos and notes.

Secretary General of Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass makes an announcement Photo by Victor Zanozin	Presidium of the Conference Photo by Victor Zanozin
President Hall of RAS: General view Photo by Darya Kazanskaya	Dr. Ian Shaw from the University of Liverpool makes a lecture Photo by Darya Kazanskaya
Dr. Nigel Strudwick from the British Museum makes his presentation Photo by Darya Kazanskaya	Dr. Eleonora Kormysheva and Dr. Svetlana Malykh Photo by Darya Kazanskaya
Director of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Cairo Dr. Irene Forstner-Mueller Photo by Darya Kazanskaya	Dr. Marvin Meyer from the Chapman University makes his presentation devoted to the Gospel of Judas Photo by Darya Kazanskaya