IntroductionFieldwork in the Territory of Others

A significant discovery sheds light on the long-standing issue of how local communities, such as the ʿAbd al-Rasul family, have historically sustained themselves through the illicit trade of ancient Egyptian artifacts from the Theban Necropolis. This study reveals that the necropolis has not only served as an ancient burial ground but also as a living space for generations of villagers in al-Qurna, who inhabited mud-brick houses near the Tombs of the Nobles and the Valley of the Kings. The research employs a combination of historical analysis and fieldwork to explore the complex relationship between the living and the dead, challenging modern antiquities legislation by examining past practices that would be illegal under current Egyptian laws.

Spek, K. v. d. (2012). IntroductionFieldwork in the Territory of Others. The Modern Neighbors of TutankhamunHistory, Life, and Work in the Villages of the Theban West Bank, 5–16. https://doi.org/10.5743/cairo/9789774164033.003.0002