“Nothing like Leather” - Leatherwork in New Kingdom Egypt
- an Online Zoom Lecture
Date: Saturday 31st May 2025 at 2.00 pm
By
Dr Andre J Veldmeijer
Cost: Free for Members and £4 Visitors
To Book: Click here (Tickets go on sale 4th May)
Abstract
The preservation of animal-based soft tissue, including skin, gut and sinew, requires very special circumstances, such as the extreme arid conditions in southern Egypt. Though in Egypt leather finds are relatively numerous, until roughly 25 years ago, research was severely limited, with only a handful of publications. With the start of the Ancient Egyptian Leatherwork Project, and several other research projects, an increase in interest and research has greatly improved our understanding of ancient Egyptian leathercraft, such as the technology of processing raw material in a workable condition and assembling objects. More and more we understand the importance of the material for the society at large. Indeed, the leather industry must have been a substantial one and of great importance, and the craftsmen were professionals with detailed knowledge of the material, and its versatility.
The lecture presents, after a short introduction of the work of a leather researcher, an up to date view of the use of leather in the New Kingdom, with the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun as a starting point. The presentation includes a note on the important and exciting find by the New York University mission to the temple of Ramesses II in Abydos, which was recently done.
Biography
André J. Veldmeijer studied archaeology at Leiden University (The Netherlands) and received his PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology from Utrecht University (The Netherlands) in 2006.
His main interest is the material culture of ancient Egypt (and Nubia) with a focus on technology. Veldmeijer has worked in Egypt since 1995 for various missions (including Amarna, Dra’ Abu el-Naga, Elephantine, Hierakonpolis, Fustat and Qasr Ibrim) and has worked in museum collections all over the world, including the Egyptian Museum and the Grand Egyptian Museum, both in Cairo, the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Currently, Veldmeijer is the (co-) director of several ongoing international research projects: Ancient Egyptian Leatherwork and Footwear Projects (including the Egyptian Museum Chariot Project) and, together with Salima Ikram, of the Tutankhamun’s Sticks and Staves Project. Moreover, he is manager of the Munro Archive Project. Veldmeijer has published extensively, both for scientific and popular audiences, including Let a Cow-Skin be Brought (2024),
The Basketry from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (2022) Chariots in Ancient Egypt. The Tano Chariot, A Case Study (2018), Tutankhamun’s Footwear (2011) and Sailors, Musicians and Monks: The Leatherwork from Dra’ Abu el Naga (Luxor, Egypt) (2017). See www.leatherandshoes.nl for a full CV.
The preservation of animal-based soft tissue, including skin, gut and sinew, requires very special circumstances, such as the extreme arid conditions in southern Egypt. Though in Egypt leather finds are relatively numerous, until roughly 25 years ago, research was severely limited, with only a handful of publications. With the start of the Ancient Egyptian Leatherwork Project, and several other research projects, an increase in interest and research has greatly improved our understanding of ancient Egyptian leathercraft, such as the technology of processing raw material in a workable condition and assembling objects. More and more we understand the importance of the material for the society at large. Indeed, the leather industry must have been a substantial one and of great importance, and the craftsmen were professionals with detailed knowledge of the material, and its versatility. The lecture presents, after a short introduction of the work of a leather researcher, an up to date view of the use of leather in the New Kingdom, with the finds from the tomb of Tutankhamun as a starting point. The presentation includes a note on the important and exciting find by the New York University mission to the temple of Ramesses II in Abydos, which was recently done.
|
Biography
André J. Veldmeijer studied archaeology at Leiden University (The Netherlands) and received his PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology from Utrecht University (The Netherlands) in 2006.
His main interest is the material culture of ancient Egypt (and Nubia) with a focus on technology. Veldmeijer has worked in Egypt since 1995 for various missions (including Amarna, Dra’ Abu el-Naga, Elephantine, Hierakonpolis, Fustat and Qasr Ibrim) and has worked in museum collections all over the world, including the Egyptian Museum and the Grand Egyptian Museum, both in Cairo, the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Currently, Veldmeijer is the (co-) director of several ongoing international research projects: Ancient Egyptian Leatherwork and Footwear Projects (including the Egyptian Museum Chariot Project) and, together with Salima Ikram, of the Tutankhamun’s Sticks and Staves Project. Moreover, he is manager of the Munro Archive Project. Veldmeijer has published extensively, both for scientific and popular audiences, including Let a Cow-Skin be Brought (2024),
The Basketry from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (2022) Chariots in Ancient Egypt. The Tano Chariot, A Case Study (2018), Tutankhamun’s Footwear (2011) and Sailors, Musicians and Monks: The Leatherwork from Dra’ Abu el Naga (Luxor, Egypt) (2017). See www.leatherandshoes.nl for a full CV.
