Latest news with #MadeInAncientEgypt
The Sun
a day ago
- Science
- The Sun
Incredible complete handprint found on ancient Egyptian tomb ornament in museum – that had gone unnoticed for millennia
AN INCREDIBLE detail on an Ancient Egyptian tomb item that had gone unnoticed for millennia has been spotted. This "rare and exciting" discovery was found on the artefact as it was prepared for display at a museum exhibition. 4 4 4 A complete handprint was spotted on a clay model designed to go inside a tomb. It is likely the hand of the object's maker, who would have touched it before the clay set, an Egyptologist at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum said. The hand print is estimated to have been left a jaw-dropping 4,000 years ago. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: "We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house. "This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried. "I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before." The print was found on the base of a "soul house" - a building-shaped clay model placed inside a tomb. These soul houses may have acted as offering trays - or as a place for the deceased's soul to reside. This particular model is dated to 2055-1650 BC. It is set to go on display at the university's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, which opens on October 3. First look inside incredible immersive Egyptian experience coming to Glasgow Strudwick added: "You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing. "Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition." Analysis suggests this item was made by coating a framework of wooden sticks with clay to form a two-storey building. Its staircases would have been made by pinching the wet clay. The use of ceramics was widespread across Ancient Egypt - both for functional and decorative use. It is not the only amazing Egyptian discovery to be reported in recent weeks. Researchers have used modern technology to learn more about The Bashiri Mummy, also known as the "untouchable one". This mummy has long remain fully wrapped up due to fears of causing damage to the intricately tied fabric. But X-ray and CT scanners have allowed researchers to unveil ancient mysteries without causing such harm to artefacts. Scans revealed that the that Bashiri Mummy would have been an adult man who stood about 5.5 feet tall.
Telegraph
a day ago
- General
- Telegraph
Ancient Egyptian handprint found on bottom of 4,000-year-old clay model
A handprint left 4,000 years ago on a clay model crafted to go inside an Egyptian tomb has been discovered during preparation for an exhibition at a museum. The 'rare and exciting' complete handprint was probably made by the maker of the item who touched it before the clay dried, an Egyptologist at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum said. The imprint was left on the base of a 'soul house' – a clay model in the shape of a building which would then be placed inside a burial. The model on which the handprint was discovered has been dated to around 2055-1650 BCE. It had an open front space where items of food were laid out, in this example loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head. Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house. 'This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried. I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before.' The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: 'You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing. 'Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition.' Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars. Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay. During firing the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in their place. The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers. Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces. The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition which opens to the public on October 3.
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
‘Rare and exciting': 4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian clay model
A handprint left 4,000 years ago on a clay model crafted to go inside an Egyptian tomb has been discovered during preparation for an exhibition at a museum. The 'rare and exciting' complete handprint was probably made by the maker of the item who touched it before the clay dried, an Egyptologist at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum said. The imprint was left on the base of a 'soul house' – a clay model in the shape of a building which would then be placed inside a burial. The model on which the handprint was discovered has been dated to around 2055–1650 BCE. It had an open front space where items of food were laid out, in this example loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head. Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house. 'This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried. 'I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before.' The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: 'You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing. 'Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition.' Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars. Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay. During firing the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in their place. The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers. Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces. The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition which opens to the public on October 3.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Rare and exciting': 4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian clay model
A handprint left 4,000 years ago on a clay model crafted to go inside an Egyptian tomb has been discovered during preparation for an exhibition at a museum. The 'rare and exciting' complete handprint was probably made by the maker of the item who touched it before the clay dried, an Egyptologist at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum said. The imprint was left on the base of a 'soul house' – a clay model in the shape of a building which would then be placed inside a burial. The model on which the handprint was discovered has been dated to around 2055–1650 BCE. It had an open front space where items of food were laid out, in this example loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head. Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house. 'This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried. 'I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before.' The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: 'You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing. 'Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition.' Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars. Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay. During firing the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in their place. The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers. Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces. The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition which opens to the public on October 3.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mystery 4,000-year-old handprint found on Egyptian soul house
A 4,000-year-old handprint has been discovered on a clay model intended for an Egyptian tomb, unearthed during preparations for an exhibition at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. The "rare and exciting" complete imprint was likely made by the item's creator, an Egyptologist at the museum said, who touched the clay before it dried. The impression was found on the base of a "soul house" – a miniature clay building designed for burial. The model dates from 2055 to 1650 BCE. It had an open front space where items of food were laid out, in this example loaves of bread, a lettuce and an ox's head. Soul houses may have acted as offering trays or provided a place for the soul of the deceased to live within the tomb. Helen Strudwick, senior Egyptologist at the Fitzwilliam Museum, said: 'We've spotted traces of fingerprints left in wet varnish or on a coffin in the decoration, but it is rare and exciting to find a complete handprint underneath this soul house. 'This was left by the maker who touched it before the clay dried. 'I have never seen such a complete handprint on an Egyptian object before.' The researcher, who is also curator of the museum's new Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition, continued: 'You can just imagine the person who made this, picking it up to move it out of the workshop to dry before firing. 'Things like this take you directly to the moment when the object was made and to the person who made it, which is the focus of our exhibition.' Analysis of the item suggests the potter who made it first created a framework of wooden sticks and then coated it with clay to make a building with two storeys supported by pillars. Staircases were formed by pinching the wet clay. During firing the wooden framework burnt away, leaving empty spaces in their place. The handprint found underneath was probably made when someone, perhaps the potter, moved the house out of the workshop to dry before firing in a kiln, according to the researchers. Ceramics were widely used in ancient Egypt, mostly as functional objects but occasionally as decorative pieces. The soul house will be on display in the Fitzwilliam's Made in Ancient Egypt exhibition which opens to the public on October 3.
