Life and Death along the Nile:
Tales from the Tombs of Tombos
Dr. Michele Buzon (Purdue University)
Thursday, February 27, 2025 • 6:00 PM EST
University of Louisville Center for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
1606 Rowan Street
Louisville, KY 40203
Beginning around 1500BC, the New Kingdom Egyptian Empire expanded its reach into the territory of its southern neighbor, Nubia, in search of resources such as gold and cattle. Over the next few hundred years, interactions between the ancient Egyptians and Nubians would include violent encounters, trade and exchange, political relationships, and the establishment of interethnic communities. One Egyptian colonial community established in Nubia, Tombos, spans the period from Egyptian expansion through the empire’s decline, allowing for rare perspective on this time of sociopolitical transition. In her talk, Professor Buzon will explore the processes of change and consequences of contact for the people who once lived at Tombos. Evidence for disease stress, nutritional deficiencies, immigration from Egypt to Nubia, and biological relatedness between inhabitants will be presented. Osteobiographies of specific individuals from Tombos will be described to highlight how the rich archaeological record can be used to understand past societies.
Michele Buzon is Professor of Anthropology at Purdue University. You can learn more about her work at Tombos here.
“Life and Death along the Nile” is part of an ongoing series of archaeology talks presented by the Kentucky Society of the Archaeological Institute of America with support from the University of Louisville Department of Anthropology.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE of AMERICA
KENTUCKY SOCIETY
Archaeology Lectures, Spring 2025
With the support of our academic partners at the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky, we look forward to presenting a series of talks in which internationally-recognized scholars discuss their latest research on a variety of archaeological topics.