EXHIBIT WALK THROUGH
THEME #1 ORIENTATION ENTRANCE
A stylized Egyptian street scene transports you to modern Egypt, where you view an orientation video, a
floor map, and learn about some of the archaeologists working in Egypt today.
Floor Map
A large map of Egypt covers the floor, introducing geographical data and key archaeological sites,
including those of the archaeologists featured in Lost Egypt.
THEME #2 FIELD SITE
Modeled after an archaeological field site in Egypt, this area encourages visitors to explore the tools,
techniques, sciences and technologies used at the Lost City of the Pyramid Builders site on the Giza
Plateau. Stories from the archaeologists focus on life in the field, discoveries, artifacts and careers. Find a
site, identify material remains, analyze findings, and engage in the process of scientific inquiry about the
lives of the Pyramid Builders. Compare results to those of the experts working at the Giza Plateau.
Exhibits and Artifacts
Sands of Time
Explore how the windy Sahara Desert environment causes archaeological sites to be lost and found by
manipulating a fan to bury or uncover a model of the Giza Plateau.
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Finding the Site
Find out how archaeologists use low-tech and high-tech methods to find an archaeological site. Discover
the work of Dr. Sarah Parcak and experiment with how satellite imaging can be used to uncover longlost sites in Egypt.
Through video interviews, discover the work of Dr. Sarah Parcak, Dr. Salima Ikram, and Dr. Tosha Dupras.
Dr. Sarah Parcak is the first archaeologist to use satellite imaging technology to find sites in Egypt. Dr.
Salima Ikram and Dr. Tosha Dupras use a variety of low and high-tech tools in their work at two of the
oasis cities in the Western Sahara Desert. Follow along with Dr. Sarah Parcak in a computer interactive
game, applying computerized filter techniques to satellite images to discover long-lost sites. Camel Pack
Climb aboard this colorful replica of a life-size camel for a photo opportunity. A computer game nearby
challenges you to pack the right equipment and supplies for their excavation.
The Lost City Project
Scientists Dr. Mark Lehner and Ana Tavares answer the question, “Who built the pyramids?” Their video
stories focus on the everyday Egyptians, rather than on the royals for whom the tombs were built.
Archaeological Specialists
This video introduces some of the specialists who work at the Lost City site and the careers of osteologist
Jessica Kaiser, archaeobotanist Dr. Mary Anne Murray, and ceramicist Dr. Anna Wodzinska.
Pyramid Block Challenge
Move a block to discover the scale of the stones used to build the pyramids and experiment with the
ancient Egyptian engineering and technologies that may have been used to move them.
Build a Pyramid
Use specially-shaped geometric wooden blocks to build a tabletop pyramid to understand the
architectural and engineering challenges.
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The Archaeological Process
Enter a mock excavation site to explore some of the material remains found in the Lost City site. A model
of a Lost City site dig pit encourages visitors to find different objects, and then to piece together the
story. Three interactive stations focus on the pottery, clay seals, and animal bones found here, and share
the work of AERA scientists Dr. Anna Wodzinska, Dr. John Nolan, and Dr. Richard Redding. Learn how
specialists work together to solve the mysteries of the past. Special emphasis is placed on the
importance of noting the artifacts’ context and their relationship to one another. Discover if your version
of what happened matches the evidence.
THEME #3 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CULTURE
This themed area contains a human mummy, a theatrical presentation about the Egyptian beliefs in the
afterlife, funerary artifacts and exhibits about the art and language of ancient Egypt.
Exhibits and Artifacts
The Afterlife in Ancient Egypt
Enter a small theater to watch a 5 –6 minute multimedia presentation about why the Egyptians
mummified their dead, and their beliefs about the afterlife.
Funerary Artifacts
Display cases reveal some of the funerary objects of ancient Egypt – canopic jars, ushabtis, an offering
slab, a funerary stela, and statues of Egyptian gods and goddesses with descriptions about their cultural,
mythological and religious significance. Graphics explain the purpose of these objects so you
understand why these artifacts were preserved.
Mummy Display
This respectful display brings you face-to-face with a real Egyptian mummy, while reminding you that
this was a real person. Learn the story of who this person was in life based on the forensic evidence.
Sacred Magic
Examine CT scans to find the amulets wrapped within a mummy’s bandages. Discover the cultural and
religious significance of amulets found on mummies.
Amulet Artifacts
A variety of amulets are on display, with descriptions of their cultural and religious significance in life and
after death.
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The Rosetta Stone
A full-size reproduction of the Rosetta Stone is on display. Learn how this stone provided the meaning of
the ancient Egyptian’s language of hieroglyphics, giving scientists the key to study this mysterious
culture.
Writing Hieroglyphics
Learn about the language of hieroglyphics and decode an authentic message from ancient Egypt.
Language Artifacts
A series of ostraka, notes the ancient Egyptians used like Post-Its®, show the evolution of the written
language over time.
Egyptian Stories
Using magnetic artwork, decide what modern objects you want to have included in your tomb goods.
The resulting wall art relates our cultural beliefs to those of the ancient Egyptians.
Explore Tomb Art
Explore this darkened re-creation of a tomb hallway decorated with artwork and hieroglyphics using
mirrors and other interactive light sources to highlight sections of the wall. Photos are taken from tombs
located in the Valley of the Nobles, Saqqara and the Valley of the Kings.
THEME #4 LABORATORY
Explore how modern science and technology helps us understand human mummies, animal mummies
and artifacts from ancient Egypt. Come face-to-face with ancient Egyptians here in scans and forensic
reconstructions.
Exhibits and Artifacts
Human Scans
Visual displays illuminate a series of life-size X-rays, CT scans and information about mummies, as well as
the amulets and other objects found with the mummy. Video interviews with Dr. Jonathan Elias and Dr.
Tosha Dupras tell the story of these mummies and explain the science of mummification and the
technology that helps us understand them.
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Rapid Prototype of Human Mummy
Discover the first life-size rapid prototype of a human mummy, created using digital CT-scans of an
actual human mummy. View smaller versions of mummy prototypes, as well as a rapid prototype of the
skull of the mummy Djedhor.
Faces of the Past
Examine facial reconstruction of four different human mummies. Originally developed for forensic work,
these techniques have been adapted for use with Egyptian mummies, allowing scientists to see ancient
Egyptians like never before. Dr. Jonathan Elias of the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium project “Souls
of Chemmis” is featured.
Animal Mummies
Two animal mummies – a cat and an ibis, will be accompanied by video interpretation by Dr. Salima
Ikram, describing the types of mummified animals used as food offerings, pets, sacred animals and
votive offerings.
Animal Mummy Scans
Interpret X-rays of animal mummies to reveal why and how animals were mummified and their
importance to the ancient Egyptians.
Ceramic Vessel Artifacts
A variety of ancient Egypt pottery is on display, with an interpretation of how it was used and how the
style of the work changed over time.
Reconstructing Artifacts
Piece together three-dimensional pottery puzzles much like real archaeologists reconstruct an object
from broken pieces.
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Using personal narratives, interviews and photographs, archaeologists and other scientists
share their enthusiasm for their work, as well as their connection to the local Egyptian
community. Those involved include:
Dr. Jonathan Elias, Director, Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium
Dr. Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology, American University in Cairo
Jessica Kaiser, AERA Osteologist
Dr. Janice Kamrin,
Dr. Mark Lehner, Director of the Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA)
Dr. Brad Lepper, Ohio Historical Society
Camilla Mazzucato, AERA GIS Specialist
Dr. Mary Anne Murray, AERA Assistant Director of Archaeological Science/Archaeobotanist
Dr. John Nolan, AERA Epigrapher and Chief Financial Officer
Gerry D. Scott III, Director, American, Research Center in Egypt
Kathleen Scott, Director of Publications/Communications, American Research Center in Egypt
Dr. Nancy Tatarek, Ohio University
Ana Tavares, AERA Assistant Field Director
Dr. Anna Wodzinska, AERA Ceramicist
Dr. Tosha Dupras, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Central Florida
Dr. Jane Butler Kahle, Condit Professor of Science Education, Miami University
Dr. Sarah Parcak, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Richard Redding, AERA Chief Research Officer