Preserving Ancient Egyptian cultural heritage: an examination of the role of egyptological archives

ABSTRACT Egyptological archives preserve evidence of Ancient Egyptian cultures, and historic Egyptian participation in archaeological fieldwork. This paper grew out of conversations with Egyptological archivists, who expressed concerns that their archives were under-used by both archaeological and Egyptian researchers. It provides an overview of current use and users, supported by evidence from literature and by a survey of a representative selection of institutions. Online research and interviews contribute further to the analysis of current Egyptological archive practice. As these archives are largely colonial in origin, this includes investigation of the effects of their formation, location and description. While most chose to remain anonymous, Egyptian interview subjects made an invaluable contribution to this research. Findings confirmed that, while Egyptological archives are increasingly used for original research, they are under-used both for research preparatory to fieldwork, and by Egyptian researchers. Survey respondents indicated a belief that the best way to address under-use and inclusivity was by providing scanned resources online. However, interviews and online research revealed that raising visibility and knowledge of these archives may be more effective.