In Memory of Barry Kemp

We have lost a great Egyptologist, Barry Kemp. Barry Kemp was one of the greatest Egyptologists of our time. He was an excellent archaeologist and writer who wrote many scientific articles on his excavations at Tell El-Amarna, the city of Akhenaten. One of the most famous of his many great publications is Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization and also his chapter on ancient Egypt.

I first met Barry at Malqata when he worked with David O’Conner. He and David were really a good team. Barry came with his wife and his daughters to the excavation site in 1974. I must say I learned a lot from him and his excavation techniques.

My friend Mark Lehner was at my office few days ago when I was writing this piece.He reminded me that in my early career as an inspector of antiquities, I decided to start excavation at Merimde Beni-Salame and many archaeologists were afraid and said “how can this young man can work in this important site after Hermann Junker?” But I went to see Barry and showed him how I will do the work. In three months, I finished two squares, each were 5X5m. I thought, “this could be a very important excavation.” I also visited Barry at Amarna and was really happy to see the great excavation site by great archaeologists.

When I decided to do the visitor center of Amarna with Michael Malison, I asked Barry to do the scenario of the visitor center. I used to be in touch with him and I remember the last time I saw him when I invited him and his wife, Mariam Bertram, for dinner.

We lost a great man, Barry Kemp.