FAQ
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Frequently asked questions
1. How many objects from ancient Egypt and Sudan are there in the UK?
In 2005-06, with funding from the MLA, ACCES surveyed about 200 collections of Egyptian and Sudanese antiquities in the UK. The survey revealed that about than 375,000 objects from Egypt and Sudan can be found in UK museums. The largest collections are in London, but every region in the UK boasts several museums with ancient Egyptian and Sudanese finds. To find out more about these collections, visit www.cornucopia.org.uk.
2. How did objects from Egypt and Sudan come to the UK? Don’t the Egyptians and the Sudanese want them back?
Information about this can be found at: http://www.accessingvirtualegypt.ucl.ac.uk/search/activities/activity7.php
3. I am studying ancient Egypt at school or university. How do I find out about objects in museums?
If you would like more information about an object you have seen on display or in a publication, contact the museum curator. The curator might be able to tell you more about the object, point you towards related objects in the collection, or make an appointment for you to study object(s) in person. Keep in mind that not every museum has a specialist curator on staff, and many curators have to juggle several roles. Email, write, or telephone in the first instance, and follow-up to let the curator know how your research project turns out.
Some museum have on-line catalogues [see ourUseful Links webpage], which might give you all the information you need.
If you have general questions about ancient Egypt or Sudan, try your library or the internet first.
4. Can I volunteer or get work experience in a museum?
Some museums offer people the chance to volunteer in many areas, including their Egyptian and Sudanese collections. Contact the museum you are interested in, and be prepared to supply a CV and references. Not every museum has the resources to host volunteers, so don’t be disappointed.
5. I think I have an antiquity from ancient Egypt or Sudan. Can you tell me what it is, if it’s real, and what it’s worth?
You can get an expert opinion on your object at many of the Core Member organizations. Try to contact the museum first, to ask about its identification service. A specialist curator can tell you whether your ‘antiquity’ is real (many aren’t!) and what it is. Curators cannot tell you what an object is worth in financial terms – that would go against our professional code of ethics.
There are answers to other FAQ you might have on the Egyptology Resources website at: http://www.newton.cam.ac.uk/egypt/faq/index.html
