The Research Potential and Significance of the Egyptian Collections within Yorkshire Museums

This research project addresses the Research Potential and Significance of Egyptian Material within Yorkshire Museums. This scoping project ascertains what Egyptian material is present in Yorkshire, particularly in storage, to open the material up for further study. This material has been put under little or no examination in the past, with the exception of the ongoing studies of Dr. J. Fletcher. There have been several cases, highlighted by Fletcher, of museums that hold a significant and unique collection of Egyptian artefacts that were hitherto unknown, an example being Harrogate Museums and Arts. This lack of knowledge is not only in the public domain but also present in the knowledge of museums themselves. Through highlighting the material that is present in Yorkshire, the project has identified specific areas of research that can be expanded on. Research potential is discussed constantly throughout the thesis, indicating how significant this material is. This thesis also highlights the local significance of the material, which is a contentious issue as Egyptian material is clearly not excavated within Yorkshire. The author has argued that once assimilated into museum or private collections, the material becomes part of the local history. This study records many items of individual interest for future study as well as addressing conditions in which the materials are currently held. This includes consideration of material damage and corrosion, which in some cases is ongoing and requires attention. Public awareness has been a strong influence in the development of this research. Through studying and highlighting this material, it is anticipated that museums can be encouraged to better utilise their collections and to construct a foundation for further academic research. This research also comes at a pertinent time, with museums being hard hit by funding and budget cuts, which are noted to have affected the study and display of Egyptian material.