Following the successful seminar on mud-brick architecture at Doughty Mews on 12 March 2011 two of the speakers, Maria Correas and Caroline Simpson, have provided details of a series of online resources they are building to aid research in this field.
Maria Correas (left) and Caroline Simpson during the seminar
The 'Mud and Straw' site (http://mudandstraw.wordpress.com/) aspires to be a hub for anyone and everyone interested in modern and ancient Egyptian mudbrick houses – whether professionally or as a hobby. It was conceived as a place for people with a passion for the subject to get in touch with each other, to share information and photographs and to find the latest updates about all things mud'brick. The ultimate aim of the site is to keep a visual and written record of what, sadly, is a rapidly disappearing building tradition. If you are interested in being involved or would like further information, please visit the website or contact Maria Correas: maria.correas-amador@durham.ac.uk.
Caroline Simpson is also working on creating an easily accessible historical resource of photographic and other images of Qurna. The Qurna of the hillside has now gone, and the built culture of the Qurnawi systematically eradicated. Modern web technology will enable the cultural heritage of the last 200 years of this World Cultural Heritage site to be visible by all who would like to see it – not least the displaced Qurnawi themselves. The album will be a part of the existing Qurna website: www.qurna.org The intention is that anyone who has images of Qurna that they feel are special in some way and show elements of the vanished culture can get a password and upload them to the site. It is at the early stages, but if you are interested do get in touch with Caroline: Caroline@qurna.org
Dr Jeffrey Spencer gives the opening talk at the seminar
The third speaker at the seminar was Dr Jeffrey Spencer, Deputy Keeper of the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan at the British Musuem and co-director of the Society's Delta Survey. The entire event was broadcast online and the talks can be be viewed below (requires Adobe Flash Player).
Mud brick Seminar 12 03 2011 Part 1 (Dr Jeffrey Spencer)
Mud brick Seminar 12 03 2011 Part 2 (Maria Correas and Caroline Simpson)