Feb. 7
Uncovering Egypt’s First Capital: Secrets from the City Behind the Pyramids
Dr. Raghda (Didi) El-Behaedi
Assistant Professor of Mediterranean Archaeology
MU College of Arts and Science
Have you ever wondered what life was like in ancient Egypt beyond the pyramids?
While pharaohs were building some of the most famous monuments on Earth, thousands of people were living, working, cooking, building, and dreaming in a huge city called Memphis—ancient Egypt’s very first capital. But for thousands of years, that city disappeared under sand, mud, and modern villages… until now. Join Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Didi El-Behaedi on an exciting journey into the field as her team brings this “lost city” back to life! From uncovering ancient houses and mysterious buildings to finding pottery, tools, and even a 4,000-year-old person, every day of excavation brings a brand-new surprise. In this talk, you’ll discover how archaeology really works—how scientists read clues in the desert, how technology helps us study buried cities, and what it’s actually like to dig in Egypt today…scorpions, sun, discoveries, and all!
About the Speaker:
Dr. Raghda (Didi) El-Behaedi is an Egyptian archaeologist, National Geographic Explorer, and Director of the Memphis Kom el-Fakhry Archaeological Project (MKAP) in Egypt. She is also an assistant professor of Mediterranean archaeology at the University of Missouri. Her research focuses on ancient Egyptian settlement patterns and landscapes, with a particular emphasis on integrating remote sensing, GIS, and 3D modeling to illuminate urban development and to advance cultural heritage preservation. She also has expertise in remote sensing, developed through work with NASA Langley and Goddard, where she completed a Space Archaeology internship..