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From the amazing discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb to contemporary coups, the necropolises of Egypt are archaeological hotspots! BY ARTEMIS GOUROS For this edition’s historic cemetery section I have gone a little farther afield than I normally do in search of a suitable candidate. In the past we have had stories on the burial ground of Norfolk Island and the graves found beneath Sydney Town Hall. For this issue however I decided to look at a necropolis rather than a mere cemetery as not only does the word necropolis sound impressive it also has exciting implications. In the modern world our cemeteries are useful historical tools, in a new country such as Australia they provide us with important genealogical information. However as society advances and our methods of record keeping become ever more accurate, the importance of a cemetery pales against the significance of a necropolis. What is a necropolis? Literally translated from the Greek it means a ‘city of the dead’. Although we still use the word, for example the Rookwood Necropolis, for me it brings to mind the ancient burial grounds of long vanished civilisations rather than green parks dotted with grave markers. I read necropolis as synonymous with archaeology. Archaeology allows us, through excavation and study, to ‘dig up’ our past and attempt to understand our often enigmatic ancestors. It is also a romantic endeavour capable of capturing the attention of many as indicated by famous films such as Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider! To my mind, the most fascinating area of study in the 250-year history of archaeology is Egyptology. Few of us do not know the amazing story of Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. It is a tale that has captured the imagination for over eighty years. A young archaeologist convinces his aristocratic patron to persevere for one more season and is rewarded with the find of a century, a tomb complete with a hoard of treasure and mummified corpse in situ. In 2003 the newspapers reported that French archaeologists had unearthed a necropolis 15 miles south of Cairo with tombs that dated back 4000 years. These tombs shed light on a baffling period of the Old Kingdom (2400-2100 BC), during which time four kings from the sixth dynasty become historically invisible. Just last month the world learnt how a team of Australian archaeologists headed by Dr Christiana Kohler from Sydney’s Macquarie University made an amazing discovery at Helwan, just outside Cairo. The Australian team uncovered a necropolis boasting tombs that contained twenty of the inhabitants of Memphis, Egypt’s first capital city. This is a find that dates back 5000 years! This necropolis not only gives us information about ancient Egyptians it also provides us with physical samples. The excavation has unearthed pots and pans made from materials such as copper and clay, and also early hieroglyphic writing on a limestone relief. The public, especially since Carter’s coup, have associated the prizes of archaeology with gold and gems and priceless objects d’art. The reality is that everyday domestic items and written records are infinitely more valuable as they tell us how people lived. Archaeology strives to tell us where we came from. A king’s ransom We are indebted to our ancestors for their custom of interring grave goods with the body. Not only Egyptian tombs but also those of many other civilisations have provided us with valuable insights into ancient times. Grave goods have contributed immeasurably to how we understand and date history. Unlike written records grave goods give us actual examples of swords, shields, jewellery and even more mundane items such as storage pots and combs. When it comes to understanding long gone civilisations the grave of a commoner is just as valuable as a king’s tomb in that it helps us to visualise our forebears. Having said that there is no denying that images of gold coffins and jewelled diadems such as those found in royal tombs can stir archaeological fervour in almost anyone. The Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile is the famous site of many royal Egyptian tombs. Located in the necropolis of Thebes, which was the capital of the New Kingdom (1500-1070BC), the valley is the home to hundreds of tombs. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this stupendous burial ground saw the interment of kings, queens and nobles over approximately a thousand year period. Many of the tombs have not yet been excavated and many more not yet actually found however the splendour of Tutankhamun’s final resting place is a symbol of the valley’s mystique and majesty. The Valley of the Kings is my favourite necropolis as it has it all, an evocative name, a romantic location and a long tradition of magic and mystery. |
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