Research
My research focuses on the language, material culture, and social history of ancient Egypt, with particular expertise in the First Intermediate Period and Ramesside Periods. I am actively engaged in projects at the tomb of Ankhtifi near Mo’alla, and the fortress at Zawyiet Umm el-Rakham. Beyond traditional scholarship, I investigate innovative approaches to Egyptology education, including prison-based pedagogy, highlighting the subject’s role in fostering critical engagement and inclusivity.
Egypt's First Intermediate Period and the Necropolis of Ankhtifi
The tomb of the First Intermediate Period warlord, Ankhtifi (c. 2100BCE) forms the centerpiece of a necropolis cut into an isolated gebel near the desert edge on the East bank of the Nile, just north of the modern village of Nag Abu Said, about 30km south of Luxor. A joint Liverpool-Bonn-Egyptian mission to the site is in preparation, and will aim to continue work already begun by Liverpool in order to throw light on the history and culture of this particular period of Egyptian history.
Inscriptional Evidence from the Ramesside Fortress at Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham
The Ramesside fortress at Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham (c. 250km along the Mediterranean cost to the west of Alexandria) has been a Liverpool research project since 2004 (directed by Dr Steven Snape). The Liverpool mission has revealed the true extent of the site, and unearthed evidence of the fortress commander, Neb-Re. A second volume is in preparation, focussing on the inscriptional evidence form the site, not least Neb-Re's unique statue inscription.
Teaching Ancient Egypt and Critical Thinking in Prisons
I explore how Egyptology can act as a transformative educational tool in non-traditional settings, such as UK prisons. My work examines creative, low-barrier approaches to teaching the subject and how these can foster confidence, critical thinking, and engagement with issues like misinformation, colonial legacies, and equality. This research highlights Egyptology’s potential as a gateway to broader conversations about evidence, authority, and social impact.
Research grants
ESRC IAA
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2023 - March 2028