This is a sadly short interview, which doesn't flow particuarly well. Lacovara has some interesting things to say, and I would have liked to have read more about the upcoming survey and mapping work planned at Malqata, which he says in the interview will be a ten year project.
Thanks to Lacovara's relationship with Egypt's antiquities czar, Zahi Hawass, the Carlos Museum this fall will host the debut of "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs," the newest tour of Boy King artifacts.
Despite his 53 years, Lacovara still looks a bit boyish himself, particularly when he cracks his impish grin. Only an archaeologist could find a thing in his office, stuffed with seemingly centuries worth of books, papers and Egypt-themed souvenirs. So he repairs to a courtyard on the Emory campus to discuss his field, his projects and his hopes for Atlanta.
Q: How has archaeology changed since Howard Carter discovered Tut's tomb in 1922?
A: We used to dig up only temples and tombs, so we know how Egyptians died. Now we want to find out how they lived. The old school was more art historical and object-oriented. Modern archaeology is interested in the social aspects. It's more anthropological.
Town planning is one of my specialties. It's hard because while tombs were made of stone, towns were constructed of mud-brick, and they have disappeared. Since the sites are not tourist attractions, the Egyptian government can't afford to maintain them as well. It's easier for development and farming to encroach on these sites.
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