About the Egyptian Collection
Bexhill Museum holds a collection of about 300 ancient Egyptian objects, largely acquired between 1914 and 1930. Unlike most collections, which typically derive from a combination of excavated material and private donations, nearly all of the Bexhill Egyptology collection was obtained through their support of the excavations of the British School of Archaeology in Egypt. Sites represented in the museum include Gurob, Sedment, Badari, Qau and Abydos.
In addition to objects which were part of these official divisions, a substantial number of pottery vessels were donated by a local physician, Dr. Walter Amsden. He worked with Petrie and Rex Engelbach during their 1913 season, when Petrie was excavating at Lahun and Engelbach at Harageh. With his medical training, Dr. Amsden was well suited to his task of studying the human remains from the cemetery at Harageh. Sadly, none of his records seem to have been published, nor is it clear how he came to know Petrie. However, it has now been possible to trace many of the vessels back to their original burials.
The entire Egyptian collection at Bexhill Museum, with photographs, is now searchable on line.
To learn more about the history of the museum and its collections, click here.
To find out details about visiting the museum and facilities available, please visit the museum's website, www.bexhill-museum.co.uk