Tutankhamun: A Century In View



Overview

‘First steps of tomb found'. So reads Howard Carter’s diary entry for the 4th November 1922. Celebrate both the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, and the anniversary of Egypt’s semi-independence from British rule. Explore the life and times of the boy king and the contents of his tomb, including his vast wardrobe. Recognise the Egyptologists involved, and the long-term legacy of this greatest of archaeological discoveries as evidenced by a series of blockbuster exhibitions.

This course explores the discovery, reception and legacy of the tomb of Tutankhamun in the century since it came to light, including richly illustrated seminars with plenty of opportunity for discussion and interaction, supplemented by a visit to the Ashmolean Museum.

Programme details

Courses starts: 28 Sep 2023

Week 1: The landmark discovery in 1922 and the Egyptian political context

Week 2: 'Tut-mania' and the Curse of the Pharaohs

Week 3: Tutankhamun's life and times

Week 4: Tutankhamun and Hetepheres

Week 5: Tutankhamun's treasures

Week 6: Tutankhamun's wardrobe

Week 7: Tutankhamun in death

Week 8: The Oxford connection

Week 9: Visit to the Ashmolean Museum

Week 10: The blockbuster legacy in 2023

Certification

Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.

To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work at the required standard.

Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £257.00
Take this course for CATS points £10.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Mrs Rosalind Janssen

Rosalind Janssen’s career was spent at UCL: firstly as a curator of the Petrie Museum, and then as a Lecturer in Egyptology at the Institute of Archaeology. She currently teaches Egyptology at the OUDCE and the City Lit in London.

Course aims

This course aims to assess the impact of the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb a century after its discovery

Course objectives:

  • Discuss the discovery and legacy of the tomb of Tutankhamun.
  • Explain the role, value and historicity of archival sources.
  • Evaluate the archaeological significance of the contents of the tomb.

Teaching methods

A diverse range of teaching methods will be used throughout the course, acknowledging that students learn in different ways.

The weekly seminar format may include a combination of:

  • tutor presentations using PowerPoint and video clips
  • questions and answers
  • whole group discussion
  • small group activities.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to be able to:

  • understand the significance of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 alongside its 20th- and 21st century socio-political context and legacy, including Oxford's contribution to the story
  • assess the archaeological significance of King Tutankhamun in life and death
  • critically evaluate the need to decolonise the history of Egyptology.

Assessment methods

Option A: short exercises over the period of the course, submitted as a portfolio including elements such as:

  • reflective learning diaries
  • Jigsaw learning
  • presentations
  • individual object reports
  • book/article/radio/tv reviews

Option B: a longer (1500-word) essay on a topic set or to be discussed with the tutor.

Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form

Application

To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £10 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form (Word) or enrolment form (Pdf).

Level and demands

While this is an introductory course, you will find it helpful to look at the website of The Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, in advance. 'Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation' represents the definitive archaeological record of the discovery of the tomb and is therefore a unique resource:

http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/discoveringtut/

Most of the Department's weekly classes have 10 or 20 CATS points assigned to them. 10 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of ten 2-hour sessions. 20 CATS points at FHEQ Level 4 usually consist of twenty 2-hour sessions. It is expected that, for every 2 hours of tuition you are given, you will engage in eight hours of private study.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)

 

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support