The Modern Neighbors of Tutankhamen af Kees van der Spek

Jane Akshar fra Luxor News gør opmærksom på udgivelsen af en ny bog fra American University i Cairo: The Modern Neighbors of Tutankhamon af Kees van der Spek. Den handler om de beboere, der i flere hundrede år har boet på Luxors vestbred. Jeg har ikke selv læst den, men forlaget omtaler bogen således:

Until their recent demolition, the colorful mud-brick hamlets of al-Qurna village, situated among the Noble Tombs of the Theban Necropolis on the Luxor West Bank, were home to a vibrant community. While many might view this area only as an archaeological landscape, the presence of Qurnawi villagers equally defined the surrounding landscape in social terms.

Inhabiting a place of intensive Egyptological research for over two centuries, it was inevitable that Qurnawis should become part of the history of Egyptology and the development of archaeological practice in the Theban Necropolis. But they have mostly been regarded as laborers for the excavation teams or dealers in the illicit antiquities trade. The modern people inhabiting the ancient burial grounds have themselves rarely been considered.

By demonstrating the multiplicity of economic activities that are carried out in al-Qurna, this study counters the villagers’ stereotypical representation as tomb robbers, and restores an understanding of who they are as people living their lives in the shadow of valued cultural heritage.

Om forfatteren fortæller Amercian University at han er en uafhængig forsker (?) fra Australien, og at han bl.a. har udført feltarbejde i Qurna. Under alle omstændigheder ser bogen ganske interessant ud.