Illahun, Kahun and Gurob. Medum

A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. The two excavation reports now reissued here together were first published in 1891 and 1892 respectively, written in collaboration with other experts. They outline significant finds at the pyramids of Lahun and Meidum, and at Gurob and Kahun, notably the latter’s cache of Middle Kingdom papyri. Petrie and his collaborators describe in detail how they came to make these discoveries, shedding light on developing archaeological practices used towards the end of the nineteenth century. Petrie’s professional method of painstakingly recording every find is well demonstrated here, and each report includes a section of valuable illustrative material. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - for both specialists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.