Common Ground: Community Archaeology in Egypt, Interaction Between Population and Cultural Heritage

Abstract

This paper discusses community archaeology in the Egyptian context and the importance of the stakeholders’ involvement in the specific case study of Tell Timai, a Graeco-Roman settlement (the ancient city of Thmuis) in the Northeast Egyptian Delta. This article examines the results of two small, yet interconnected projects conducted with the help of the local community, and their effects on it. These two projects include archaeological data, oral histories, and public outreach focusing on the interaction between community, archaeological heritage, and public perception of archaeology. Additionally, this paper critically analyzes the preliminary outcomes of the project and discusses how the project team faced and overcame the different challenges.