Dr Jay's Musings

A new article on Mendesian Perfume for your purview:  https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/ancient-egypt-exploring-forgotten-scents

A Dog's Death.  The logical interpretation of this scene is that this poor fellow was carving on this obelisk at Tanis when he met his demise.   I will post the true solution of how why this dog met his end shortly.

           It's a dog's life in the ancient world.  While it could be subject to other interpretations, it seems pretty clear that it was neither enslaved Jews, craftsmen, peasants, nor priests who made brick, but rather pooches.  We have multiple examples of their paw-work in fired bricks at Tell Timai. Reference:  (PDF) With & without straw: How Israelite slaves made bricks (researchgate.net)

        As promised, I have conducted my first test of a Matterport camera on on outdoor archaeological site.  We know it is good for tombs and the like but outdoors does pose some problems. I cannot wait to test it some more, but I did learn a few lessons.  Notes for use; 1) I shot the images at about 5:30am a perfect time.  By 6:30 the sun was starting to get strong and it was more difficult for the sensor to align the images. 2) I did it hasty so that means the halfa grass was thick, holes were hidden, and it was a bit treacherous.  When going about a formal non-test case, make sure you do the preliminary work of clearing obstacles and anything you don't want in the model.  Note my police escort appears in various places in the distance. 3) keep your points close, I think 1-2 m intervals. 4) Choose your elevation.  Because it is a large structure I set the tripod at a high level.  If you are more interested in t...

Yesterday, as I took up residence in the new project director's room on the 3rd floor, I noticed an old bird's nest between the window and the shudder. I began to open the shudder when there were some shouts from my Egyptian colleagues. In the corner was a cluster of gorgeous blue eggs. I pulled the window closed again before they tumbled to the ground.   Marawa has come back to work for us and take care of the house...dear sweet brave soul taking care of an archaeological dig house. She held a dustbin and I thought asked if I wanted my room swept and I responded yes. She walked in and went for the nest.  Apparently, my misstep that nearly wiped out the nest yesterday had been interpreted as my desire to have the nest gone.  I stopped her, again just before the moment of doom for the nest, and explained that we should guard the babies there.  She seemed relieved that she was not being asked to commit avicide.  Now the mother bird is often popping up to chec...

I have seen the famous wooden prosthetic toe in textbooks on ancient medicine, on social media, and in academic talks, but I was surprised and thrilled to see it for myself at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.  The foot and toe date to 950-710 BCE and we’re recovered from the mummy of a woman found near Luxor.  There is another toe of cartonnage at the British Museum as well. I recall my ancient history professor at San Jose State University decades ago discussing Henri Frankfort's Kingship and the Gods: A Study of Ancient Near Eastern Religion as the Integration of Society .  I was a bit incredulous about Frankfurt's interpretation of the relationship between the icons of gods and the spiritual essence of the deity. Whether wood, cartonnage, straw, faience, or stone, these representations were not merely representations but the embodiment of the spirit, no less real than the connection of your mind and body.  For example, there is an account of a man mak...