Latest news with #FlindersPetrie
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
World's oldest dress discovered in Egypt after 5,000 years reveals ancient craftsmanship
Source: UCL News The rare and remarkable relic of ancient fashion history discovered in Egypt's Tarkhan Cemetery, south of Cairo. The Tarkhan Dress dated between 3482 and 3102 BC being the oldest known complex tailored clothing is the woven linen which means the garment designed to be cut, shaped, and sewn rather than simply wrapped and draped. The Tarkhan garment, the oldest dress unearthed, underscores the sophistication of textile production dating back over 5000 years ago in addition to a direct linking to early Egyptian craftsmanship and social customs. This demonstrates that the clothing was more than functional even in the ancient world; expressive, culturally significant and made intricately. Tarkhan Dress: The oldest known dress found in an Egyptian Cemetery In 1913, the dress was first uncovered by the famed British archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie during the excavation of a mastaba tomb which is flat-roofed and rectangular in design at the extensive tarkhan necropolis. This burial ground features over 2000 tombs back to the critical transition from Egypt's Protodynastic to Early Dynastic periods, when the first pharaohs began to consolidate power. The remnants believed to have been brushed aside by the ancient tomb robbers was a 'pile of linen cloth' which the archaeologist Petrie brought back to the UK. The garment was recognised until 1977 for decades when textile conservators of the Victoria and Albert Museum identified the fragments as of nearly complete linen dress. Tarkhan Dress: Design and fabric used The oldest dress discovered was crafted from fine linen woven from flax (Linum usitatissimum), featuring a modest V-shaped neckline, with tight sleeves and a knife-pleated bodice indicating advanced textile skills. Though its lower section is missing, experts believe it could have functioned as a tunic, shirt, or full-length dress. The garment's size and style suggest it was made for a slim, young woman of elite status. As noted by the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at University College London (UCL) , where the dress is now housed, this type of tailored clothing was uncommon in the archaeological record due to the fragile nature of ancient textiles. Confirming the oldest dress age and cultural significance In 2016, a study led by UCL's Alice Stevenson and isotope chemist Michael Dee of the University of Groningen verified the dress's age through advanced radiocarbon dating. The garment was confirmed to have been created around the dawn of Egypt's First Dynasty, a period marking the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaohs. Interestingly, signs of wear on the dress suggest it was used during life before being interred, countering the idea that it was made exclusively for funerary use. This practical wear, combined with visual depictions of similar garments in contemporary tomb art, reinforces the theory that the Tarkhan Dress was fashionable at the time. Beyond its age, the Tarkhan Dress represents a major breakthrough in the understanding of early clothing construction. As Stevenson noted, the survival of such a perishable textile especially in a nearly complete, tailored form which is extraordinarily rare. Also Read | 'Doomsday fish' recently spotted four times in 20 days across countries including India; here's where and what happened next
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
What? The Great Pyramid doesn't just have four sides, there's more to it
The Great Pyramid of Giza has long been one of the most iconic symbols of ancient Egypt and human potential. It has stood the test of time by standing still on the Egyptian desert sand for the last 4500 years and has attracted generations of scholars, explorers, and tourists worldwide. The timeless grandeur and detailed geometric design of the marvel have made many researchers call it a masterpiece of symmetry and engineering. Traditionally, the pyramid has been understood to have four sides, and each a perfect triangle converging to a point at the summit, reflecting the architectural brilliance of ancient Egyptian builders. But what if that perception was incomplete? Recent discoveries have begun to change the basis of how we view the Great Pyramid, telling that it may hold secrets that went unnoticed for centuries. Far from being a simple four-sided structure, new evidence suggests the pyramid actually has a more complex design, one that subtly strays far from first impressions. This discovery doesn't just challenge how we see it. It also leaves some mind-boggling questions on the viewer about the level of scientific and architectural excellence achieved by the ancient Egyptians. The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, is the only wonder that still stands today among the 'Seven Wonders of the Ancient World'. The Great Pyramid of Giza has eight sides! For centuries, scholars believed the Great Pyramid of Giza had four perfectly flat faces. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This understanding held until 1940, when British Egyptologist Flinders Petrie made a surprising observation. Under specific lighting conditions, Petrie noticed a subtle indentation running vertically down the center of each face. These depressions, though nearly invisible from ground level, indicated that the faces were not flat, but slightly concave. This suggests that the pyramid doesn't have just four sides, but eight. Each face is divided into two shallow planes by these concave curves, which are only visible under particular light conditions or from above. The Great Pyramid is even more complex in design, which is not seen in other pyramids of its kind. What are these concave faces ? The idea of concave faces was explored further in 1975 by Egyptologist IES Edwards in his book The Pyramids of Egypt. He wrote that the blocks were set in such a way that they sloped inward, creating the impression of a central depression. These findings were reinforced by a 2023 study published in Archaeological Discovery. Researcher Akio Kato wrote, 'The Great Pyramid at Giza is known to have an amazing character of concavity that each of its four faces is slightly indented along its central line, from base to peak. ' Kato's analysis highlights how this feature, invisible from typical vantage points, was likely intentional, suggesting an advanced understanding of geometry, optics, and perhaps even symbolic design. The ancient Egyptians' ability to execute such precision reinforces their reputation as master builders and visionaries. The Great Pyramid, it turns out, is not just an ancient wonder, but a puzzle still revealing its secrets.
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Secrets of forgotten Egyptian tomb statue revealed
A stone head that spent decades gathering dust on a wall has proved to be an Egyptian statue from an ancient statue fragment was one of hundreds of pieces, from a fossilised shark tooth to wartime posters, collected by a Nottinghamshire inspected, the relic was found to be mounted on a wooden board, which revealed it was 2,500 years old but also contained documents showing it was found in 1888 close to a "lost" Richard Griza said: "I saw it over my shoulder, and I almost couldn't believe my eyes - it is a privilege to handle such an item." The artefact, measuring roughly 15cm (6ins) square, is believed to be part of an "ushabti", a type of funerary figure which was intended to function as a helper in the of volcanic basalt, it has been dated to the 26th Dynasty (circa 664-525BC). Mr Griza, from Arthur Johnson Auctioneers, said the items had been collected by a local doctor."There were hundreds of items, and they were eclectic to say the least."He seemed to have collected historical curios of all sorts, from sword handles to fossilised shark teeth."The head had been on a wall for decades, and the gentleman's niece said they didn't pay much attention to it; it was just another thing to dust." It was only when taken off the wall, it was found the wooden mounting contained documents revealing more about its paperwork, drawings, and letters of provenance show it was found during Flinders Petrie's 1888 excavations at came from the tomb of a great noble called Horuta, who was important enough to be buried close to the pyramid of pharaoh Amenemhat II, which has been largely destroyed over Griza said: "It is so rare to get an item with this provenance."We know where and when it was found, and it's so remarkable it was found by one of the pioneers in archaeology."Sir Flinders Petrie, who lived from 1853 until 1942, is regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in the history of pioneered a more scientific approach to both dating finds and regarding anything found on an excavation - no matter how mundane - as worthy of of the collection has already been sold, but the head goes under the hammer at Arthur Johnson and Sons auctioneers on 24 May with an estimate of £1,500 to £2,500.
