MFA BOSTON PRESENTS THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A: EGYPT 2000 BC

THEY SURVIVED TWO FIRES, THE ONSLAUGHT OF ROBBERS AND THE EFFECTS OF FOUR THOUSAND YEARS UNDERGROUND. NOW, THESE REMARKABLE MASTERWORKS FROM AN EGYPTIAN TOMB OF THE MIDDLE KINGDOM (2040–1640 BC) WILL BE ON VIEW I A SPECIAL EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS (MFA), BOSTON, FROM 18.OCTOBER.2009 THROUGH 16.MAY.2010. 'THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A: EGYPT 2000 BC' SHOWCASES FUNERARY OBJECTS DISCOVERED IN DEIR EL-BERSHA, A NECROPOLIS IN CENTRAL EGYPT, BY THE JOINT HARVARD UNIVERSITY/MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS EXPEDITIONS IN 1915. IT INCLUDES THE FAMOUS PAINTED 'BERSHA COFFIN', THE MUMMIFIED HEAD OF ONE OF THE TOMB'S OCCUPANTS, AND HUNDREDS OF ITEMS DEEMED NECESSARY FOR A COMFORTABLE AFTERLIFE IN ANCIENT EGYPT. THIS FIND REPRESENTS THE LARGEST MIDDLE KINGDOM BURIAL ASSEMBLAGE EVER DISCOVERED AND SHEDS LIGHT ON THE GRAND LIFESTYLE ENJOYED BY LOCAL GOVERNOR AND PRIEST DJEHUTYNAKHT AND HIS WIFE. THE CONVERSATION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF MANY OF THE ITEMS, DAMAGED BY GRAVE ROBBERS, HAVE TAKEN ALMOST A CENTURY TO COMPLETE. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SINCE THEY WERE PLACED IN THE TOMB, THE ASSEMBLAGE WILL BE DISPLAYED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
'THE SECRETS OF TOMB 10A' EXAMINES THE MYSTERIES SURROUNDING THE DJEHUTYNAKHTS, THEIR LIFESTYLE, THE FATE OF THEIR POSSESSIONS AFTER THEY WERE BURIED, AND WHETHER THE MUMMIFIED HEAD IS MALE OR FEMALE. IT ALSO OFFERS AN ENGAGING INTRODUCTION TO EVOLVING FUNERARY PRACTICES IN EGYPT FROM THE 11th THROUGH THE 13th DYNASTIES AND PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO DAILY LIFE OF THE HIGH OFFICIALS OF THE TIME. FEATURED ARE MORE THAN 250 OBJECTS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN ON VIEW. THESE INCLUDE FOUR PAINTED COFFINS, CULT OBJECTS, VESSELS FOR FOOD AND DRINK, FURNITURE, JEWELRY, WALKING STICKS AND SEALED BEER JARS (ONE OF WHICH WILL BE OPENED AND EXAMINED), AS WELL AS THE LARGEST KNOWN COLLECTION OF WOODEN MODELS FROM THE MIDDLE KINGDOM REPRESENTING, IN MINIATURE FORM, A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND ITEMS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND ON THE COUPLE'S ESTATE. THIS IS TRULY A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME EXHIBITION
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