Made in Ancient Egypt: meeting the makers
an in-person Lecture
Date: Saturday 31stJanuary 2026 at 2.00 pm
By Dr Helen Strudwick
Cost: Free for Members and £4 Visitors
Venue Oakwood Centre
Tickets: on the door
Abstract:
The underpinning research for the Fitzwilliam Museum’s exhibition “Made in Ancient Egypt" is based on two principles: looking below the surface and experimentation. For the first, we can use both physical exploration (using analytical methods to identify materials and structures) and we can also look beyond the finished surface to understand possible reasons for choices of material, changes of mind, etc.. Experimentation allows us to test theories and to experience practical difficulties that need addressing in real time. This talk will highlight the methods available for investigating the methods of making objects, including microscopy, simple close looking, advanced imaging technologies, experimental archaeology and learning by observing contemporary practitioners and show how much we can learn from this about the people who made the objects we see in museum collections around the world.
Biography
Helen Strudwick is Senior Curator at the Fitzwilliam Museum, responsible for the Museum’s collection of Egyptian Antiquities. She first joined the Fitzwilliam in 2001 as an Egyptologist, documenting the museum's collections, subsequently working as a dedicated outreach officer for ancient Egypt and then as acting Senior Assistant Keeper. Since 2014, she has a led a project to study, document and publish information about the Fitzwilliam’s collection of Egyptian coffins working in collaboration with a wide range of colleagues around the world, and especially Julie Dawson (Affiliated Researcher and former Head of Conservation and Scientific Research). Together, they curated the Fitzwilliam's previous Egyptian exhibition focussing on the outcomes of this research project called Death on the Nile: Uncovering the Afterlife of Ancient Egypt.
Helen is passionate about sharing information about ancient Egypt, not only with other Egyptologists but with people from all walks of life and is a regular lecturer at day schools and events run by local Egyptology societies. This has led to the development of the 'pop-up' museum concept, an outreach activity led by academic researchers who go literally out into the community (appearing at pubs, shopping centres, etc.) to share their findings with, and to learn from the responses of, the public.
Beyond the Fitzwilliam, Helen has also been archaeological director of the Cambridge Theban Tomb mission which has worked in Luxor since 1984 on a long-term project to document private tombs endangered by theft, tourism and environmental damage. So far the project has recorded Theban tombs 99, 253, 254, 294 and 297.
