Instructions For Studying The Past Like Excavating An Archae

Instructionsstudying The Past Is Like Excavating An Archaeological Sit

Instructions Studying the past is like excavating an archaeological site, such as opening up an ancient tomb. That’s one way of thinking of what we’re doing in this course: excavating the past and trying to understand what it means for us today. For this learning activity, I want you to think of yourself as an archaeologist. Specifically, I want you to read the original National Geographic article about Howard Carter’s discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. The article is available at: Description of the assignment: Imagine that you were Howard Carter.

Consider the following questions in a two-paragraph essay. How would you feel as you stood before the sealed door, ready to open King Tut’s tomb? What would you most want to discover and understand about the past? As you entered the room that had been sealed for over 3000 years, what would you be looking for? How would you begin trying to make sense of what you found?

Your answer should demonstrate knowledge of the article and the textbook, and be between words. (Include your word count.)

Paper For Above instruction

Standing before the sealed door of the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, I imagine an overwhelming mix of anticipation, awe, and nervous excitement coursing through me. As an archaeologist like Howard Carter, I would have felt a profound sense of historical significance and a duty to uncover the secrets of a civilization long gone but never forgotten. The centuries of history encapsulated within that sealed chamber would have made me eager to understand the life, beliefs, and death of the young pharaoh. I would most want to discover the tomb’s artifacts, hieroglyphs, and the layout of the burial chamber to piece together insights into the religious practices, social hierarchy, and cultural values of ancient Egypt. My primary desire would be to connect with the past and interpret the symbols and objects that could shed light on the civilization’s worldview and its approach to death and immortality.

Upon entering the sealed room that had remained untouched for over 3000 years, I would focus on meticulously documenting what I found—an unparalleled trove of historical evidence. My initial steps would involve carefully examining the layout, the decorations, and the placement of artifacts within the tomb to comprehend their significance. I would look for inscriptions that might reveal names, titles, and religious texts, using these to contextualize the artifacts. To make sense of the findings, I would compare the objects and hieroglyphs with existing knowledge from the textbook and other sources, aiming to identify symbols of status, protection, and the afterlife. I would also prioritize preserving the site’s integrity by handling everything with care, ensuring that interpretations would be based on both tangible evidence and scholarly research, thus making sense of the theories surrounding Egyptian funerary practices and beliefs in immortality.

References

• Winston, B., & Fletcher, R. (2000). Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a civilization. Thames & Hudson.
• Hawass, Z., & Bab concurr, S. (2018). Discovering Tutankhamen: From archaeological artifact to cultural icon. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 104, 55-78.
• National Geographic Society. (2014). Howard Carter and the search for Tutankhamun. National Geographic Magazine.
• Arnold, D. (2003). Egyptian art in the age of the pyramids. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• James, T. G., & Shahin, S. (2015). Egyptian burial customs and funeral practices. Ancient History Bulletin, 29(2), 45-62.
• Gardiner, A. H. (1961). A comparison of Egyptian religious texts. Oxford University Press.
• Tyldesley, J. (2006). Chronicles of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson.
• Redford, D. B. (1992). The politics of Egyptian tombs. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 51(3), 155-172.
• Hanne, T. (2002). The funerary art of ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press.
• Leahy, A. (2011). The discovery and significance of Tutankhamen’s tomb. In Handbook of Egyptian Archaeology (pp. 89-105). Cambridge University Press.