Indiana Jones: Myth, Reality And 21st Century Archaeology

Egyptian civilization for centuries has been a source of inspiration and curiosity for academic scholars, treasure hunters, grave looters, and the general public. Our image of Egyptologists is that their investigative techniques are traditional and focus on refining Dynastic sequences, architectural elements, and hieroglyphics. However, the field has been transformed over the years and is addressing more anthropological questions, ranging from settlement geography to social organization, using technologies such as GIS, geoarchaeology and remote sensing. Of critical import at present, is the transformative direction Egyptological research will take in the wake of the Arab Spring and the re-organization of the Department of Antiquities and Heritage Management infrastructures. Today’s guest, Dr. Donald Redford, has witnessed the evolution of Egyptological research over the course of half a century and will share his insights on the changing landscape of Egyptian studies over the years.