Saturday 16 May 2026 1400 UK Time:
Luisa María García González: 'A Dynasty of Powerful People: a study of Sarenputi I's family at Aswan.'
Description: During the 12th Dynasty, a powerful local family held authority as governors of Elephantine in Egypt’s southernmost nome, on the natural border with ancient Nubia. This geographical area with multiple particularities had a special relevance for Egypt throughout history, and its strategic location gave it relevant importance in the political affairs of Egypt. Archaeological work by the Spanish mission of the University of Jaén at the governors’ tombs in the necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa, has revealed just how influential the family was and sheds new light on the genealogical connections between the tomb owners. The Spanish research has provided a better understanding of the archaeological site and generated new knowledge about the local elite of Elephantine. The lecture will draw a brief presentation of the archaeological works carried out at Qubbet el-Hawa, paying special attention to those undertaken in tomb QH35p.The archaeological research from the excavations, the study of the materials and the complementary study of personal names, social, professional and kinship connections (prosopography), have provided fascinating new data on the family of Sarenputi I, thought of as the founder of a governors’ family at Elephantine in the early Middle Kingdom. The research has identified connections with other Egyptian monuments and objects to unknown ancestors of the governor, filling many existing gaps on his genealogical tree and reconsidering previous theories.
Biography: Dr Luisa M. García González gained her PhD in Egyptology at the University of Jaén (UJA), Spain. She is Research Fellow ‘Beatriz Galindo’ at the Department of Anthropology, Geography and History of University of Jaén having previously worked as Visiting Professor at the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) of the Northeast Normal University (NENU) of Changchun (China). She undertook several research posts at different institutions such as the University of Alcalá (Spain), Belgrade (Serbia), Sorbonne (France), Liverpool (United Kingdom), and the British Museum. Her primary research interests are prosopography, Egyptian administration, Social Network Analysis (SNA), Egyptian archaeology and epigraphy, as well as the study of the material culture in general terms. She is Deputy Director of the Qubbet el-Hawa Project (UJA), where she has excavated since 2010.
The waiting room will open about 13.45 for a 14.00 start UK time.
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