Julia Budka (LMU Munich)
Cultural Diversity in the Nile Valley during the New Kingdom: Challenging Monolithic Understandings of Egypt and Nubia
In recent years, Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology has made significant progress in exploring cultural variability and diversity. Moving beyond oversimplified notions of identity, the concept of cultural diversity enables us to develop more nuanced narratives by integrating a wide range of archaeological evidence and analytical approaches.
This lecture offers a fresh perspective on cultural diversity in the Nile Valley during the New Kingdom, drawing on recent excavations and new scientific analyses of material culture. It highlights the complexity of ancient social dynamics and challenges modern perceptions of fixed cultural and political boundaries between Pharaonic Egypt and Nubia (present-day northern Sudan). Furthermore, it questions the long-standing assumption that Egyptian and Nubian societies can be understood as culturally homogeneous or monolithic entities.
Monday, November 2, 5:00 PM
Alumni House
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During her visit, Professor Budka will also give a seminar:
New Kingdom Nubia in the Light of Recent Research: Society, Material Culture, and Cultural Entanglement
Recent archaeological research has substantially advanced our understanding of New Kingdom Nubia, offering new perspectives on the social, cultural, and economic dynamics of this important contact zone between Egypt and inner Africa. Drawing on evidence from recent excavations, this seminar explores how new discoveries contribute to current debates on cultural encounters, societal transformation, and the complexity of lived experience in northern Sudan during the New Kingdom.
Particular attention will be paid to the archaeological contextualisation of temple towns, rural settlements, and newly discovered tombs, as well as evidence from temples, rock inscriptions, and administrative contexts. These case studies illuminate the coexistence of diverse cultural groups and demonstrate that identities and cultural affiliations were dynamic, negotiated, and shaped through everyday interactions rather than fixed ethnic or political boundaries.
The seminar further examines material culture as a means of investigating cultural entanglement, focusing on pottery production, subsistence strategies, and gold working. By integrating archaeological, scientific, and contextual evidence, it highlights both the potential and the limitations of current research while identifying key questions for future investigation. Overall, the seminar presents New Kingdom Nubia as a dynamic social and cultural landscape whose complexity challenges traditional narratives of Egyptian colonialism and cultural uniformity.
Tuesday, November 3, 4:00 PM
location TBA