Amany Abd El Hameed

AMANY ABD EL HAMEED, then a graduate student at Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt, received a grant in April 2023 to aid research on “Untold Stories of Egyptian Labor in the Penn Museum Archives: Labor regimes, the Postcolonial state, and Neoliberal Heritage Management,” supervised by Dr. Richard Leventhal. This research explores the overlooked histories of Egyptian laborers at the archaeological site of Abydos, a cornerstone of Egypt’s cultural heritage. Spanning colonial, semi-colonial, and postcolonial periods, the study focuses on the socio-political and economic dynamics shaping labor practices at the site from 1899 to the present. Through an in-depth examination of the Lucy Gura Archives at the Egypt Exploration Society (EES) in London and additional archival collections in the UK and Egypt, the project uncovers the integral yet marginalized roles of Egyptian men and boys in constructing Abydos as a contemporary heritage site. Employing multimodal methodologies, including archival research, oral histories, and participant observation, the study connects labor histories with broader frameworks of colonialism, postcolonialism, and neoliberal heritage management. Key outcomes include a database of transcribed historical letters, a virtual reality documentary, and insights from interviews with descendants of Abydos laborers. By shedding light on the contributions of Egyptian workers, the project challenges dominant archaeological narratives that often exclude local voices. The findings were disseminated through presentations, publications, and the “Uncovering Abydos” conference, celebrating 125 years of excavation at the site. This work underscores the need for equity and inclusivity in heritage management and archaeological scholarship.