Apologies for the lack of posts of late. Finally, the UK was rewarded with quite a good summer and, as such, I have not spent too much time at the computer. In fact, I have spent most of the time on various research trips, the fruits of ones labour can be seen over at my new photography site Morte Photography www.mortephotography.co.uk Please pop on over and take a wee look.

Whilst On My Way.....

Whilst on my way to a burial ground this morning, for a little research, I stumbled across this in someone's window. I really need to book some more dates! :)

Tempus Fugit

Well as is the norm of late my good intentions of keeping you all regularly up-dated have faltered at the first hurdle. I had no idea just how busy life would become since my last ‘News’ post. So much for me having a relaxing summer before my PhD resumes in the new academic year. It has been a world full of deadlines! Now where shall I begin? Lets’ commence with the Egypt news.  Firstly, there are many new talks coming up this autumn (see Appearances page) two of which, namely Ancient Egyptian Magic, are now both fully booked so I have been reliably informed. Inverness Museum has booked me again to give a talk on Ancient Egyptian Curses this coming 29th August and there is an exciting new Egypt project in hand commencing on Saturday 19th October. All will be revealed shortly. Other ancient Egyptian lectures in October and November are being organised as I speak. Work is progressing well on the book ‘The Little Book of Ancient Egyptian Curses’ and I am now hopeful that the release date will now be brought forward to October/November 2014. I was also very honoured recently to be asked to join the Egyptology/Museology Committee for FEMC (Friends of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo) I also have some online Egyptology courses planned.

My new photographic project entitled ‘Morte Photography’ is well under way and I hope to go public with it this coming week-end. A new gallery exhibition and book are planned for spring 2014 to coincide with this rather exciting fresh endeavour of mine.

I was privileged to be asked to contribute to a new American book entitled ‘Viral Mythology,’ by Marie D Jones and Larry Flaxman, which is due for release in January 2014. Further details will be forthcoming as and when I receive them.  I was also contacted by some American researchers about my elusive Warrior Women tome. Quite a few articles are also in the pipeline, hopefully to be released in the next few months.

Finally, I have been very busy indeed on a more local level I am pleased to say. From assisting The Kirkmichael Trust, acting as an advisor to the Ferriby Trust Education Project to digging in a field looking for medieval remains. All great fun and a timely reminder why I chose to devote my life to the heritage sector. Fingers crossed there will no longer be such pauses between up-dates.

Wishing you all a very pleasant summer, wherever you may be! Lorraine :)

Saving the Turoe Stone

Those who know me well will understand why I want to bring to your attention the valiant efforts of an archaeological colleague from Ireland, Robert Chapple. I myself am currently involved with a major restoration project so I fully understand the sentiments Robert expresses in his blog post. Please take a look at his blog, link below, to find out more.

http://rmchapple.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/release-iron-age-one-whats-happening-to.html

The Hopeman Ice House

I am currently writing an article on the Scottish Ice House and stumbled across this wonderful example in Hopeman, Duffus, Moray complete with an Egyptian style entrance. Dating to the 19th century, I would be interested to hear from anyone who has further details with regards to its construction.

Just to let folks know that there are quite a few updates over at the Lorraine Evans website, including a new article by yours truly on 'Symbols of Mortality' in the new edition of AncientPlanetOnline magazine, a new Guest Slot featuring a fascinating article by Andrew Collins on the ancient site of Gobelki Tepe and much, much more....

www.lorraineevans.com

A Dingwall Delight

A recent excursion to the old Viking town of Dingwall led to this rather lovely slab of mica schist, an example of a Class 1 Pictish Stone. For those unfamiliar with the term Picts, they were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Celtic peoples living in eastern and northern Scotland, most likely the indigenous population within these regions, although some accounts do refer to a questionable foreign invasion. The various forms of Pictish stones have conventionally been divided into three groups, Class 1 stones date from the 6^th – 8^th centuries and are classified as unworked stones or boulders which have only symbols incised on them.

A Class 1 Pictish Stone, Dingwall

This particular example was first identified as a Pictish stone in the year 1880, it was being used as a lintel over the doorway of the local church at the time, and has now been removed and placed upright opposite the entrance to the burial ground.  Measuring a full 1.31m high, 0.55m wide and 0.24m thick, it is just possible to see the rather ornate carvings below the encroaching moss and lichen. On the west face there is a double-disc and Z-rod complete with accompanying crescents with V-rods at the centre and base of the stone. On the east face there are three circles at the top, below which is another crescent and six cup marks. The existence of carved cup marks does suggest an earlier prehistoric date for the stone and it was probably re-used by the local Pictish inhabitants.

This particular example was first identified as a Pictish stone in the year 1880, it was being used as a lintel over the doorway of the local church at the time, and has now been removed and placed upright opposite the entrance to the burial ground.  Measuring a full 1.31m high, 0.55m wide and 0.24m thick, it is just possible to see the rather ornate carvings below the encroaching moss and lichen. On the west face there is a double-disc and Z-rod complete with accompanying crescents with V-rods at the centre and base of the stone. On the east face there are three circles at the top, below which is another crescent and six cup marks. The existence of carved cup marks does suggest an earlier prehistoric date for the stone and it was probably re-used by the local Pictish inhabitants.

Example of Pictish Crescent Symbol

Example of Pictish Double Disc and V-Rod Symbol

Such intricate symbols are unique to the Picts but their purpose and meaning are still a matter of intense debate. They frequently appear in pairs and have been interpreted as representing particular kindreds, lineages or clans or possibly a form of pictographic writing. Some may even have mythological or religious meanings, as in a few cases associated graves have been uncovered. Further details for the Dingwall Stone can be found at the following link:

http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/12820/details/dingwall+churchyard/

Medinet Habu - Luxor

For those interested in ancient Egyptian temples, I have set up a page on Facebook devoted to the wonders of Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramasses III situated on the West Bank, Luxor. Please feel free to pop over and take a look.

Eastern Gate of Medinet Habu

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Murder-at-Medinet-Habu/292858557401305?ref=hl

The Ferriby Boats

To those of you who have read Kingdom of the Ark you will already be aware that in the opening chapters I comment upon the Ferriby Boats from North Yorkshire and their links to Ancient Egyptian boat design. This was nearly 13 years ago now and at the time I was deemed crazy to suggest such a thing. However, the latest press statement from the official Ferriby Heritage Trust, seen below, now appears to be coming around to my way of thinking. Perhaps I wasn't that crazy after all folks!

THE 4,000 YEAR OLD LINK BETWEEN THE HUMBER AND THE NILE

Intriguing liaison between the Great Pyramid and a village charity

Did Bronze Age Britons walk from the Humber to the Nile, or did Ancient Egyptians make the 3,000 mile trek in the opposite direction? This is one of the 4,000 year old questions posed by a new link between an East Yorkshire riverside village and Egypt’s Great Pyramid.
The Ferriby Heritage Trust, the village charity which owns the replica of the stitched plank Bronze Age ships found buried on the North Ferriby foreshore, is linking with the Khufu Boat Museum alongside the Great Pyramid at Giza to exchange information and experience as an international team rebuilds a stitched plank ship found in a sealed chamber alongside the pyramid.
Following a New Year visit to the area Afifi Rohim Afifi, Chief Inspector of the Pyramids and general manager of the new Solar Boat project, where the second Cheops boat (and an exact replica for international display) will be built and displayed, said it was important to him and his team to know as much as possible about the Ferriby Ships and their discovery. Remains of such early vessels have been found mainly in North West Europe, Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean and have been mostly fragmentary, which makes the Ferriby Ships very significant.
Ferriby Heritage Trust chairman Wendy Dobbs, who escorted Mr Afifi on his tour of the riverside discovery site with its outline “pavement” and the replica at the Welton Waters Activity Centre where the half scale replica is based for research and education work, said the new liaison highlighted the international significance of the Ferriby Ships.
“One of the most intriguing aspects is how, when personal contact was the main means of communication, did such similar methods of construction develop in communities 3,000 miles apart at around the same time. It is known prehistoric man walked huge distances but, in this instance, there was some difficult territory to cross.
“Mr Afifi was particularly interested in the Riverside Walkway area and had a strong feeling there could be other remains to be found. Ground penetrating radar has been used with considerable success in Egyptian archaeology and he thinks a GPR survey of our area could be well worthwhile.”