Evolution of museology in Egypt : an international comparative study of ancient Egyptian exhibitions
Date
2007-05Author
Fjerstad, Branden
Publisher
Archaeological Studies Program, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper proposes that Egyptian museology and archaeology have been primarily shaped and
influenced by foreigners. Because foreigners have dominated the presentation of ancient Egyptian
history through archaeology and museum displays, Egyptian cultural heritage has been one that is
presented from different viewpoints other than those of the Egyptians themselves. In the past few decades many native Egyptians have become involved in the fields of archaeology and museology.
Changes are taking place in the way ancient Egyptian antiquities are being displayed and managed within all museums in Egypt. This project aims to illustrate the development of museum display of ancient Egyptian archaeological antiquities from the earliest development of the Egyptian Museum which was originally built and controlled by foreigners, to other newer museums which have been more influenced by Egyptian professionals, such as the Alexandria National Museum and the Nubian Museum in Aswan. As a corollary, a comparative analysis of the British Museum's ancient Egyptian collection will be used
as a comparative means of identifying any differing methods of display in foreign museums. The
presentation of these observations will illustrate just how rapidly the science of museum studies is
developing in the field of Egyptology.
Subject
Museum exhibits
Museum techniques -- Egypt