Fundmaterial aus Gräbern. Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der archäologischen Interpretation und ihre didaktische Vermittlung
In: Methodik und Didaktik in der ÄgyptologiePurchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
This paper seeks to outline the rich potential of finds from tombs. The archaeological interpretation of material coming from funerary contexts is not limited to the reconstruction of burial customs and funerary culture, but such material adds to our knowledge of everyday life, social structures, various aspects of society as well as ethics and thoughts of people (cf. Pinch, G., in: Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Egyptologists). Further, the finds attest to a variability of funerary customs in Ancient Egypt despite the fact that most of the material is associated with the upper class. Within this elite-biased view on funerary culture, the material evidence suggests a certain discrepancy between written theory and real practice – archaeological findings may contradict texts and pictorial sources related to procedures such as building one’s tomb, respecting the dead and worshipping ancestors (cf. Baines, J./Lacovara, P., in: Journal of Social Archaeology2). The paper also highlights possible approaches to communicate basic knowledge concerning the topic to undergraduate students. Given the diversity of the subject, it seems necessary to simplify some aspects in order to avoid confusion and to successfully communicate main issues e. g. the importance of documenting find spots and artefact association.