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UK funding (£115,680): Made for the afterlife? Identifying metal craft traditions in early Egyptian funerary assemblages, from local to cross-cultural practices Ukri30 Sept 2025 UK Research and Innovation, United Kingdom
Overview
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Made for the afterlife? Identifying metal craft traditions in early Egyptian funerary assemblages, from local to cross-cultural practices
| Abstract | This project aims to explore wider stories and connections within the British Museum collection by conducting the first detailed technological study of some of Egypt’s earliest metal objects found in funerary contexts. Using advanced non-invasive analytical techniques, the research will evaluate manufacturing methods, technological choices, and material selection behind metal vessels and (model) tools, as well as their role in funerary practices. Representing some of early Egypt’s most significant material culture, these assemblages remain poorly exploited from a museological perspective. Their holistic examination and interpretation through the lense of ‘object itineraries’ affords tremendous potential to understand their makers and owners, thus developing engaging narratives beyond their artistic appeal. Furthermore, this opens novel possibilities for museum-based research to examine interactions between early civilisations in the region through technological exchange. As a pilot study, metal objects from the mid-third millennium BCE Royal Cemetery of Ur, Mesopotamia, will be compared. This will support future museum exhibitions and collaborations telling new stories about these under-researched objects in the collection. The research will provide unprecedented insights into the evolution of metal craft traditions and their integration into burial assemblages, helping to reframe traditional understandings of Egyptian funerary archaeology largely focused on beliefs about the afterlife. By creating detailed digital models of the objects, the project will make these artifacts accessible for global audiences. It will establish a new methodological framework for ancient metal studies, contributing to a comprehensive database and offering innovative pathways for research and outreach in Egyptology and archaeometallurgy |
| Category | Training Grant |
| Reference | UKRI1829 |
| Status | Active |
| Funded period start | 30/09/2025 |
| Funded period end | 30/09/2029 |
| Funded value | £115,680.00 |
| Source | https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=UKRI1829 |
Participating Organisations
| University of Cambridge |
The filing refers to a past date, and does not necessarily reflect the current state. The current state is available on the following page: University of Cambridge, Cambridge.
