Tewfik Boulos and the Administration of Egyptian Heritage at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century

Abstract

Much of the research conducted into the history of Egyptology as it transitioned during the first half of the twentieth century from a collector’s backyard into an area of western-sanctioned archaeological research focuses on the experiences and perceptions of western scholars, with little attention given to the involvement or presence of Egyptians. The recent discovery of thousands of archival documents in a storeroom inside the Temple of Seti I in Abydos represents a significant and valuable dataset that can contribute to a more holistic history of the discipline that involves actors who have traditionally been side-lined. In particular, this paper focuses on a ledger (1914–15) belonging to the antiquities inspector Tewfik Boulos, shedding light on his role and responsibilities in the day-to-day administration of sites in the inspectorates of Sohag and Assiut, contextualizing his experiences and ultimately working towards a history of the field that is inclusive and multi-layered.