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REVIEW BY ROGER FORSHAW
The 23rd Current Research in Egyptology (CRE) conference was held at the University of Basel in 2023. Bringing together an engaged community of mainly early career researchers, the conference offered a diverse programme from which 22 papers were selected for inclusion in this volume.
The contributions reflect the breadth and richness of current Egyptological research, spanning a wide thematic and chronological range. Subjects covered include language and literature, material culture, religion, archival studies, intercultural connections, excavation reports, and methodological innovations, addressing most periods of ancient Egyptian history. Collectively, these papers provide an engaging snapshot of how the field of Egyptology is evolving in the questions being asked, and in the approaches being applied.
Several papers draw on previously unpublished archival material from museum collections and historic excavations. Katarzyna Kapiec examines early photographic documentation from the late 19th and early 20th centuries at Deir el-Bahri, offering fresh insights into this iconic site. Tommaso Montonati focuses on Middle Kingdom material from Qau el-Kebir, now housed in Turin’s Museo Egizio, highlighting the ongoing value of revisiting museum collections.
Yossra Ibrahim’s paper ‘Stellar Skies’ combines astronomical analysis with iconographic study to reinterpret ancient Egyptian celestial diagrams. Focusing on a feature found exclusively in three Ramesside tombs (identified by the author as the ‘Double Diagram’), Ibrahim explores its symbolic significance, and proposes that it served to represent a more complete and unified vision of the night sky.
Socio-economic themes are also prominently represented, further illustrating the diversity of topics addressed. Anaïs Montoto Soto explores grain loans and surplus management, examining the ways in which agricultural resources were controlled and shared within communities. Meanwhile, Sue Kelly reconsiders women’s titles in the Old Kingdom, offering new interpretations that deepen our understanding of social structure.
Thomas Lebée investigates contacts between Egypt and Mesopotamia during the 4th millennium BC through the study of cylinder seals. His analysis highlights stylistic influences, and explores the potential for cross-cultural connections between these two early civilisations.
Current Research in Egyptology 2023 offers a thoughtful overview of the ongoing scholarly activity, while continuing CRE’s long-standing tradition of offering a platform for postgraduates, early career researchers, and independent scholars.
Current Research in Egyptology 2023: Proceedings of the Twenty-Third Annual Symposium, University of Basel, 10-14 September 2023
edited by L Dogaer et al.
Archaeopress, 2025
ISBN 978-1-80327-821-6
Paperback, £45; Open-Access Free Download
