Excavating Ancient Egypt: Fifty Years of Archaeological Memories

This article is from Ancient Egypt issue 154

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This is an unusual book that focuses not on excavation results and discoveries (although these are covered), but on life excavating in Egypt. Jeffrey Spencer, who directed many seasons of fieldwork for the British Museum and the Egypt Exploration Society, presents an intimate account of 50 years working at North Saqqara, Ashmunein, Naukratis, and the Nile Delta. His list of colleagues forms a ‘Who’s Who’ of Egyptology greats, such as Bryan Emery, Geoffrey Martin, Harry Smith, and Manfred Bietak.

Spencer affords readers a behind-the-scenes view of the trials and tribulations of excavation work in Egypt: the physical demands of desert environments; the difficulties of travel; finding (or building) accommodation; organising supplies; and dealing with complex bureaucracy. He highlights the camaraderie of the teams – their patience and humour in the face of hardship, their shared sense of purpose, and the helpful and welcoming attitude of local villagers and workers. He reflects on how archaeological methods and techniques transformed over his lifetime in the field, and the shift in emphasis from large-scale excavations to small projects, heritage management, and long-term site protection.

The book is packed with personal anecdotes. Arriving at North Saqqara in November 1970, Spencer’s career was off to an inauspicious beginning with the sudden death of Director Bryan Emery, and the ‘fake news’ of his demise being linked to a statue of Osiris he had just discovered. Spencer’s first task was to work in the falcon catacombs, ‘a hot stuffy place infested with fleas’ and full of mummy dust. Work at Ashmunein had to wait until the team had built themselves a habitable dig house. In the early days, they were required to dress for dinner, and served in order of their social status. Potholes, unofficial speed bumps, and dangerous driving were a constant problem; Spencer names one British Museum Director who visited the team bringing a bottle of whisky, but had been so terrified ‘he had drunk a fair part of it already on the way down’.

Illustrated with many colour photos of excavations, dig houses, and archaeological sites and finds, this new book is a fascinating personal account of life in the field, showcasing the legacy of Jeffrey Spencer and his fellow explorers of ancient Egyptian history.

REVIEW BY SARAH GRIFFITHS

Excavating Ancient Egypt: Fifty Years of Archaeological Memories
Jeffrey Spencer
Archaeopress, 2025
ISBN 978-1-805-83127-3
Paperback, £30