15th Stuart L. Wheeler Gallery of the Ancient World Lecture

“The Search for Coffins and Carpenters: Insights into Technology and Religion in Ancient Egypt”

Presented by Carrie Arbuckle MacLeod
Assistant Professor of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology
University of Saskatchewan

Lecture 3 p.m. | Jepson Hall, Room 118

Reception following the lecture | Humanities Building, Ancient World Gallery, Room 419

For the ancient Egyptians, the coffin was a magical vessel. Depending on the period, it could be an armored transport to the afterlife, the womb of a goddess, or a transformative machine that could imbue the deceased with the powers of a god. While the religious significance of these objects transformed over time, craftspeople were there, at each moment, ensuring that these potent objects were as effective as possible for their diverse clientele. In this talk, we explore the history of coffins and the choices of the carpenters who made them. We will consider linked communities of practice and traditional knowledge passed down through generations. We will discuss the religious significance of coffins timbers, and the magic hidden in coffin joints. Through these details, we can connect with an aspect of Egyptian society that is too often ignored in grand historical narratives but was responsible for the creation of some of Egypt's most famous and captivating artefacts. 

Caroline Arbuckle is assistant professor of classical and Near Eastern archaeology at St Thomas More College at the University of Saskatchewan. She studied at the University of British Columbia (BA Hons Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology), Oxford University (MPhil Egyptology), and at UCLA (PhD Archaeology). Her work explores ancient Egyptian craftsmanship, coffins, and the history of woodworking. She recently published Archaeological Wood and Woodworking for the Cambridge University Press Elements series. 

For more information, contact the Department of Classical Studies at (804) 289-8420 or email ebaughan@richmond.edu.