The Aten experiment did not last, and Amarna was abandoned after only a few decades, and most of the site was not subsequently built over.  As a result it provides a a rare opportunity to examine an ancient Egyptian city and to explore aspects of life there.

The site has a long history of excavation, including work by Flinders Petrie in 1891-2, at which time he was assisted by Howard Carter, then on his first excavation to Egypt. The site has been explored by the Egypt Exploration Society during the 1920s and 1930s and again – under the directorship of Professor Barry Kemp – from the 1970s.  Mr. Kemp’s main work is now conducted under the auspices of the Amarna Trust, although some aspects receive E.E.S. support.

I began working at Amarna as part of Professor Kemp’s team in 1983, working first on pottery and subsequently developing an interest in faience and glass production at the site.   My work for Professor Kemp and the E.E.S. included experimental archaeology, reconstructing a pottery kiln, and a box oven based on excavations of such structures from the site.

From 1993 I conducted my own excavations on behalf of the E.E.S. and with Professor Kemp’s support. These took place at site O45.1, a designation from the Amarna grid system, and referring in this case to buildings not far from the Small Aten Temple in the Central City.  This site was believed to be close to one of the  locations examined by Petrie and geophysical survey conducted by Mr. Ian Mathieson using proton-magnetometer showed areas consistent with heavily burned brick.

These areas turned out to be a series of kilns and furnaces.  At least two kilns for making pottery or/and faience were located along with a preparation area for potter’s clay.  Two very large furnaces, unlike any known from Amarna for pottery production were also discovered.  These are believed to be for the production of glass from its raw materials.  The largest of these furnaces was built as a full scale replica and glass produced from it lending weight to the argument that the Egyptians of the time of Akhenaten could produce their own glass.

Because the Egyptian authorities prefer to have qualified archaeologists working on their finds there are few opportunities for undergraduate students to work in Egypt. However, it has been possible to work with recent graduates and postgraduates from Cardiff and their work has contributed greatly to the project.  Several have been involved as site supervisors and as illustrators and the work of all can be seen in the publication of the site: Brilliant Things for Akhenaten – a title reflecting the Egyptian love of the brilliance of glass and faience.

Relevant Publications – Books

Relevant Publications: Book chapters (including conference proceedings)

Relevant Publications: Papers