Digging Egypt's Past: Harvard and Egyptian Archaeology
FYSEMR 30G
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
Mysterious pyramids, colossal royal statues, tiny gold jewelry, decorated tomb chapels, temples, settlements, fortresses, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. This was the excavation legacy in Egypt and Sudan of the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) Expedition. Led by Egyptologist George Reisner (1867–1942), this expedition revolutionized archaeological method, and put Harvard Egyptology on the world stage, all during British control of the Egyptian government, French control of Egyptian antiquities, and Egyptian yearning for independence. This seminar explores 20th century and modern archaeology and Egyptology, racism and decolonization in cultural heritage, Harvard and MFA history, museology and artifact repatriation. Students will access unpublished archival documents at Harvard and elsewhere, and will research important expedition sites, staff members and momentous discoveries.
NOTE: Circumstances permitting, field trips to the Peabody Museum, the MFA, Harvard’s Visualization Center (Giza Pyramids in 3D), and the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, will bring the HU–MFA Expedition to life. Budgets permitting, our Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the seminar will end with a gala dinner in the Museum's restaurant.
Class Notes
First-Year Seminars are available only to first-year students. You may apply to both Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 First-Year Seminars via the FYS lottery between July 6 and August 6, 2026 at 11:59PM-midnight.
You may apply to as many seminars each term as you would like, but we recommend you apply to at least six in fall and three in spring.
As part of your application, you must provide a brief statement on why you are interested in each seminar. You will be notified of lottery results for both fall and spring seminars at 5 pm on August 11. If you are unsuccessful in the lottery, you may still join any seminar with open seats. A list of open seminars and instructions on next steps will be available on the First-Year Seminar Program website August 11 at 12 Noon.
Not Available for Cross Registration
