Talk: Egyptology

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Only with knowledge of Egyptian writing and language was it possible to study Ancient Egyptian culture.

That's not correct, surely? And the line about `modern Egyptology starting in 1822'---is that true, i.e. is there a good reason for the statement, or is it just twee nonsense? Penfold 09:02, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Of course, it is possible to study ancient Egyptian culture without a knowledge of Egyptian writing and language, but it would make our understanding all the poorer. I think this is just a matter of wording and semantics..... Far too generalised a comment that needs changing. Perhaps better to say that such an understanding provided keys to studying the culture and provided a strong impetus for the same.

The bit about modern Egyptology starting in 1822 is reasonably valid - 1822 marks the announcement by Champollion of his general decipherment of hieroglyphics for the first time..... Which brings us back to the writing and language point..... I think we could let this comment stand - most proifessional Egyptologists, including myself, would trace the beginnings of the discipline back to this early point. Pjamescowie 10:44, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Nice work. Ta. Penfold 12:09, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)

No worries. I'm looking to make quite a few other changes within the Wikipedia for archaeology topics within my own research domain.... Watch this space! Pjamescowie 13:07, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)