Adventure hackers
Digging the pastItaly and the Canary Islands. ‘Egyptian
mummification was so influential that
various other cultures adopted it,’ she
explains. ‘I’m often invited out to study
both newly excavated remains or those
that have been held for many years within
museum collections.’
One job in Turin, Italy, involved studying
a pair of mummified knees thought to
belong to Nefertari, the favourite wife of
famed pharaoh Rameses II. Nefertari is
depicted on many monuments but her
tomb was robbed in antiquity. Fletcher’s
task was to help ascertain whether the
knees were all that remained of the fabled Egyptian beauty.
Surprisingly, her most recent project brought her close to
her Yorkshire roots. An Egyptology collection, including a gold
face mask of stunning quality, had come to light in Wigan
Museum, Greater Manchester. ‘I was absolutely blown away,’
she says. ‘I often tell my students that not everything is found
in Egypt. A lot is much closer to home.’
Best bit: ‘The Nefertiti Project. It led to
the realisation that we didn’t actually
understand how mummification had
been carried out during ancient Egypt’s
Golden Age. That, in turn, led to the
mummification of human body donor
Alan Billis. The project was filmed as part
of a Channel 4 documentary, for which we
won a BAFTA and several other awards.
I just couldn’t believe it. Since then, 17
people have emailed to ask if they can
donate their bodies for the purpose of
archaeological research.’
Worst bit: ‘The elitism that still exists in
some areas of archaeology. I heard one academic say, “Oh,
she’s from Barnsley, is she?” as if my accent meant that I had
a low IQ. But it just makes you work all the harder. I’m very
proud of where I come from.’
Handy hint: ‘Become a specialist in one part of your particular
subject area and learn an additional language or two, so you
can read a wider range of academic papers.’WA N T TO WA L K
IN ANCIENT
FOOTSTEPS?
The traditional route is
to study for a degree in
archaeology or a related
subject, such as ancient
history. Several British
universities offer them,
including the University
of York, Bournemouth
University, SOAS
University of London,
University of East
Anglia, the University of
Aberdeen and Bangor
University.
Courses can be arts-
oriented (for example,
Bangor University’s
BA in Archaeology, run
out of the School of
History, Welsh History
and Archaeology) or
more science-based
(for example, the BSc
in Archaeology at the
University of Aberdeen’s
School of Engineering and
Physical Sciences).
If you’re not sure
whether a degree is for
you, try volunteering
first. If you’re under 17,
you can join the Council
of British Archaeology’s
Young Archaeologists’
Club. There are about 70
branches across the UK
and the Council also holds
an annual festival. Events
for all ages will take place
from 15-30 July 2017.
Visit archaeologyuk.orgFletcher (left and below)
frequently visits Egypt
to advise on finds