Moriarty Science Seminar: Sailing Through Eternity: Caring for the Dahshur Funerary Boat
March 13, 2023, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Hybrid: Online and At the Museum
R.W. Moriarty Science Seminar Presents: “Sailing Through Eternity: Caring for the Dahshur Funerary Boat“
Speakers: Gretchen Anderson and Dr. Lisa Haney, Carnegie Museum of Natural History
This event will take place Monday, March 13 at Noon online via Zoom.
Abstract: Four ancient Egyptian boats were excavated at Dahshur, Egypt in the 1890s. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History cares for one of them. Two others remain in Egypt and the fourth is at the Field Museum in Chicago. The Dahshur boat has been a favorite exhibit since it was first displayed in 1907. Have you ever wondered how the boat got to Pittsburgh? Or, how to care for a 4,000-year-old, 30-foot long boat?
This talk will unravel the boat’s fascinating history – how it came to be here, how it was exhibited, the conservation challenges, and the current research that helps us to better understand both the boat and the culture that made it. We will also discuss the importance of archival and technical research to long term care and understanding of this unique object. This includes a brief look at how technical analysis has changed over time, creating a need for collaboration between colleagues from different backgrounds and specialties.
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