Russian Academy of Sciences plans Fall conference on the state of Egyptology

Plans for a conference “Achievements and problems of modern Egyptology” has just crossed my desk this morning. It will take place from 29 September- 4 October 2009, at the Academy of Sciences in Moscow and will coincide with an exhibition “The royal cache. Secrets of the Pharoahs”  that will highlight Russian work on Theban Tomb 320. The following subjects will be covered:

• origins and development of Ancient Egyptian state
• policy and trade relations between Ancient Egypt and Middle Eastern Mediterranean countries
• landscape archaeology, natural and anthropogenic factors in the development of the Nile valley
• urban archaeology and peculiarities of Egyptian settlement sites
• dynamics of development and transformation of Egyptian culture
• cross-cultural relations in Egypt during Graeco-Roman period
• new methods and technologies in archaeological research
• history and culture of Coptic Egypt

More infomation can be viewed here

The brutal and sad death of Federico Campanini on Aconcagua

This event in January has caused a real furor in Argentina, rightly so I think. For the video of the rescue attempt, and more information is given over on the Adventurist.

Warning, it is really, really grim. It’s easy to arm chair quarterback the events from the comforts of my study in Connecticut. Having said that though, I have a gut reaction to it all, and some questions. What the hell were these guys doing videotaping the attempted rescue would be my first one. Was this for legal protection?? Anyway, I won’t myself post the video. And to be unprepared for a rescue (from the reports, the rescuers were not prepared to find him alive), with no medications (?), or equipment to carry him down, or at least keep him warm, seems appalling to me. Let alone the verbal abuse expressed by some of the rescuers. Maybe that was just to get him going? But the man was suffering from his fall no doubt, and HAPE. I donno. My heart goes out to his family. Donations on behalf of his family, and a guestbook to express thought sif you knew him, can be made HERE.