Edward R. Ayrton
Encyclopedia
Edward Russell Ayrton was an English
Egyptologist and archaeologist.
He was the son of William Scrope Ayrton (a British
consular official in China) and his wife Ellen Louisa McClatchie, and was born in Wuhu, China
, on 17 December 1882 (coincidentally, the same year as the formation of the Egypt Exploration Fund). He was educated at the prestigious St Paul's School, in London
.
He began his career in Egyptology at the age of 20, assisting the pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology William Matthew Flinders Petrie
. He joined Petrie on the Egypt Exploration Fund excavations at Abydos
(which began in 1899) from 1902 to 1904.
Ayrton's first independent work was the excavation of the Second Dynasty
site of Shunet ez Zebib
(at Abydos). Later, he worked near Ghurab
with William Leonard Stevenson Loat.
In 1904-05 he excavated and recorded graves of several ancient princesses found in the funerary temple complex of king Mentuhotep II
at Deir al-Bahari, as part of the expedition led by Édouard Naville
and Henry Hall
.
Working for Theodore M. Davis
in Egypt
's Valley of the Kings
from 1905 to 1908, he discovered the following tombs:
He also led or participated in the excavation of the following tombs:
Again working with Loat, in 1908-09 he excavated amongst the Sixth Dynasty
tombs at Abydos and also the Predynastic
cemetery at El Mahasna.
In 1911 he accepted a position with the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon. On the 18 May 1914 he drowned while on a shooting expedition, in an accident on the Tissa Tank lake, Tissamaharama
, in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Egyptologist and archaeologist.
He was the son of William Scrope Ayrton (a British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
consular official in China) and his wife Ellen Louisa McClatchie, and was born in Wuhu, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, on 17 December 1882 (coincidentally, the same year as the formation of the Egypt Exploration Fund). He was educated at the prestigious St Paul's School, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He began his career in Egyptology at the age of 20, assisting the pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology William Matthew Flinders Petrie
William Matthew Flinders Petrie
William Matthew Flinders Petrie FRS , commonly known as Flinders Petrie, was an English Egyptologist and a pioneer of systematic methodology in archaeology and preservation of artifacts...
. He joined Petrie on the Egypt Exploration Fund excavations at Abydos
Abydos, Egypt
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, and also of the eight Upper Nome, of which it was the capital city. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of el-'Araba el Madfuna and al-Balyana...
(which began in 1899) from 1902 to 1904.
Ayrton's first independent work was the excavation of the Second Dynasty
Second dynasty of Egypt
The second dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasty I under the group title Early Dynastic Period. It dates approximately from 2890 to 2686 BC. The capital at that time was Thinis.-Rulers:...
site of Shunet ez Zebib
Shunet ez Zebib
Shunet ez Zebib is a large mudbrick structure located in Abydos, Egypt, at and dates from the 27th century BC. It was built by King Khasekhemwy, and is similar to the smaller structure Khasekhemwy built at Nekhen....
(at Abydos). Later, he worked near Ghurab
Abu Gorab
Abu Gurab is a sun temple built by the people of ancient Egypt. It was excavated by Egyptologists between 1898 and 1901 by Ludwig Borchardt on behalf of the Berlin Museum and is located near the city of Memphis...
with William Leonard Stevenson Loat.
In 1904-05 he excavated and recorded graves of several ancient princesses found in the funerary temple complex of king Mentuhotep II
Mentuhotep II
Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II was a Pharaoh of the 11th dynasty, the son of Intef III of Egypt and a minor queen called Iah. His own wife was the 'king's mother' Tem. Other wives were Neferu and several secondary wives, one or more who it has been suggested were possibly Nubian, buried in his...
at Deir al-Bahari, as part of the expedition led by Édouard Naville
Édouard Naville
Captaine Henri Édouard Naville was a Swiss egyptologist.He was born in Geneva. He studied in London, Paris and Berlin ....
and Henry Hall
Henry Hall (Egyptologist)
Dr Henry Reginald Holland Hall MBE, FBA, FSA was an English Egyptologist and historian. In life, he was normally referred to as Harry Reginald Hall.-Early life:...
.
Working for Theodore M. Davis
Theodore M. Davis
Theodore M. Davis was an American lawyer and is best known for his excavations in Egypt's Valley of the Kings between 1902 and 1914.-Biography:...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
's Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings , less often called the Valley of the Gates of the Kings , is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, tombs were constructed for the Pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom .The valley stands on the west bank of...
from 1905 to 1908, he discovered the following tombs:
- KV47KV47Tomb KV47, located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, was used for the burial of Pharaoh Siptah of the Nineteenth Dynasty, though Siptah's mummy was found in KV35. KV47 was discovered on December 18, 1905 by Edward R. Ayrton. Theodore M...
(of the pharaoh SiptahSiptahAkhenre Setepenre Siptah or Merneptah Siptah was the penultimate ruler of the 19th Dynasty. His father's identity is currently unknown. Both Seti II and Amenmesse have been suggested. He was not the crown prince, but succeeded to the throne as a child after the death of Seti II...
, in 1905) - KV55KV55KV55 is a tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It was discovered by Edward R. Ayrton in 1907 while he was working in the Valley for Theodore M. Davis. It has long been speculated, as well as much-disputed, that the body found in this tomb was that of the famous 'heretic king' Akhenaten...
(Amarna PeriodAmarna PeriodThe Amarna Period was an era of Egyptian history during the latter half of the Eighteenth Dynasty when the royal residence of the pharaoh and his queen was shifted to Akhetaten in what is now modern-day Amarna...
, interment problematic, in 1907) - KV56KV56Tomb KV56, located in the Valley of the Kings, is known as the Gold Tomb, and was discovered by Edward R. Ayrton in January, 1908. It contained what is thought to be the intact burial of a royal child from the late Nineteenth Dynasty...
(of a royal child, in 1908) and - KV57KV57Tomb KV57, located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, was used for the burial of Horemheb, the last Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty.The tomb was located by Edward Ayrton in February 1908, who was working for Theodore Davis...
(of the pharaoh HoremhebHoremhebHoremheb was the last Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty from either 1319 BC to late 1292 BC, or 1306 to late 1292 BC although he was not related to the preceding royal family and is believed to have been of common birth.Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief...
, in 1908).
He also led or participated in the excavation of the following tombs:
- KV2KV2Tomb KV2, found in the Valley of the Kings, is the tomb of Ramesses IV, and is located low down in the main valley, between KV7 and KV1. It has been open since antiquity and contains a large amount of graffiti.-Contemporary plans of the tomb:...
, KV10KV10Tomb KV10, located in the Valley of the Kings near the modern-day Egyptian city of Luxor, was cut and decorated for the burial of Pharaoh Amenmesse of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. However, there is no proof that he was actually buried here...
, KV46KV46Tomb KV46 in the Valley of the Kings is the tomb of Yuya and his wife Tjuyu, the parents of Queen Tiye, the wife of Amenhotep III, and King Ay, and grandparents of Nefertiti. It was discovered in February 1905 by James E. Quibell. Quibell was sponsored by Theodore M...
, KV47KV47Tomb KV47, located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, was used for the burial of Pharaoh Siptah of the Nineteenth Dynasty, though Siptah's mummy was found in KV35. KV47 was discovered on December 18, 1905 by Edward R. Ayrton. Theodore M...
, KV48KV48Tomb KV48, is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It contained the burial of the noble Amenemopet called Pairy.The tomb lay near KV35, the tomb of Amenhotep II, and was entered by a shaft that leads to a small chamber containing a destroyed burial of the eighteenth dynasty...
, KV49KV49Tomb KV49, located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt is a typical Eighteenth Dynasty corridor tomb. It was probably used as a mummy-restoration area in the later New Kingdom.-External links:* - Includes detailed maps of most of the tombs....
, KV50KV50Tomb KV50 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It contained the burial of a dog mummey and a mummified monkey, and is probably associated with the nearby tomb of Amenhotep II ....
, KV51KV51Tomb KV51 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It contained the burials of three monkeys, one baboon, one ibis and three ducks, and is probably associated with nearby tomb of Amenhotep II ....
, KV52KV52Tomb KV52 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It contained a mummified monkey, and is probably associated with the nearby tomb of Amenhotep II ....
, KV53KV53Tomb KV53 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It has never been fully planned, but consisted of a single chamber at the end of a shaft....
, KV54KV54Tomb KV54 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It was originally excavated by Edward R. Ayrton on behalf of the American lawyer Theodore M. Davis, who funded the work.-Site history:...
, KV56KV56Tomb KV56, located in the Valley of the Kings, is known as the Gold Tomb, and was discovered by Edward R. Ayrton in January, 1908. It contained what is thought to be the intact burial of a royal child from the late Nineteenth Dynasty...
, KV57KV57Tomb KV57, located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, was used for the burial of Horemheb, the last Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty.The tomb was located by Edward Ayrton in February 1908, who was working for Theodore Davis...
, KV59KV59Tomb KV59 is located in the Valley of the Kings, in Egypt. It seems to be a tomb-commencement, but contained no remains.-References:*Reeves, N & Wilkinson, R.H. The Complete Valley of the Kings, 1996, Thames and Hudson, London...
, and KV60KV60Tomb KV60 in Egypt's Valley of the Kings is one of the more perplexing tombs of the Theban Necropolis, due to the uncertainty over the identity of one female mummy found there , thought by some, such as the noted Egyptologist Elizabeth Thomas, to be that of 18th dynasty Pharaoh Hatshepsut. This...
.
Again working with Loat, in 1908-09 he excavated amongst the Sixth Dynasty
Sixth dynasty of Egypt
The sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and V under the group title the Old Kingdom.-Pharaohs:...
tombs at Abydos and also the Predynastic
Predynastic Egypt
The Prehistory of Egypt spans the period of earliest human settlement to the beginning of the Early Dynastic Period of Egypt in ca. 3100 BC, starting with King Menes/Narmer....
cemetery at El Mahasna.
In 1911 he accepted a position with the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon. On the 18 May 1914 he drowned while on a shooting expedition, in an accident on the Tissa Tank lake, Tissamaharama
Tissamaharama
Tissamaharama is a town in south-eastern Sri Lanka. It used to be the capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom of Ruhuna as early as the 3rd century B.C. Only few buildings from that period can still be seen today. The large artificial Tissa Wewa lake, which was a part of a sophisticated irrigation...
, in southern Ceylon (now Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
).