UW News

October 23, 2008

Mummy comes out for Family Day

Seattle’s only Egyptian mummy, nicknamed “Nellie,” will make a rare public appearance at the Burke Museum during the “Mysteries of Ancient Egypt” family event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun., Oct. 26.


The mummy has been at the Burke Museum since 1902 and is the remains of a 5-foot-tall Egyptian woman who lived nearly 2,000 years ago.


Nellie, a Seattle favorite, will join other objects from the Burke Museum’s archaeology collection — including a scarab seal and mummified birds — in a temporary public display of ancient Egyptian archaeological objects. You can even see X-ray images revealing the insides of the mummy.


Burke archaeologists will be on hand to share stories and piece together the mysteries of the afterlife. Guest speaker Sarah L. Sterling, assistant professor in anthropology at Portland State University, will present several short talks throughout the day about Egyptian funerary practices.


Hands-on family activities will help visitors of all ages discover the ancient world. Children can learn about mummy preparation by decorating a full-size cartonnage, or papyrus mummy covering. Or try their hands at translating hieroglyphs or examine a replica of the Rosetta Stone — and make their own mummy bag to take home just in time for Halloween trick-or-treating!


Mysteries of Ancient Egypt is presented by the Archaeology Department of the Burke Museum. This event is free with museum admission.


For more information on this event or the Burke Museum and its exhibits, visit online at www.burkemuseum.org.