Jean Vercoutter
Encyclopedia
Jean Vercoutter was a French
Egyptologist. One of the pioneers of archaeological research into Sudan
from 1953, he was Director of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
from 1977 to 1981.
, Nord, Vercoutter attended the Académie Julian to learn about painting, but soon turned to Egyptology
. In 1939, he graduated from the IVe section of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes with a thesis on Ancient Egyptian funerary objects and was appointed resident of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology of Cairo (IFAO). He participated in excavations in Karnak
and directed an excavation in Tod
.
Upon his return to France, he joined CNRS (1949–1955). During all these years, he pursued research on the relationship between Egyptians and pre-Hellenes, providing some firm conclusions on the relationship between these two great civilizations and the history of the ancient Aegean world. He was appointed professor at the University of Lille
in 1960 and was one of the pioneers in archaeological research into Sudan
. Between 1960 and 1964, he concentrated on studying Kor
and Aksha
, where he had been working in part since 1953, as they were threatened by the construction of the new Aswan Dam
. He excavated structures such as the temple of Ramesses II
, a Meroitic
cemetery, as well as other small cemeteries. Vercoutter also excavated at the site of Saï
.
He was Director of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
from 1977 to 1981. Until his death in 2000 he was still active in the subject, publishing Les barrages pharaoniques. Leur raison d'être in 1994.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Egyptologist. One of the pioneers of archaeological research into Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
from 1953, he was Director of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
.The Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale , also known as the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo is a French research institute based in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and languages of the various periods of Egypt's civilisation.The IFAO is...
from 1977 to 1981.
Biography
Born in LambersartLambersart
Lambersart is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.This commune is in the extreme north bordering Belgium. It is located in the metropolitan Urban Community of Lille Métropole, and is a suburb of the city of Lille, bordering it on its northwest side.Inhabitants of the town are called...
, Nord, Vercoutter attended the Académie Julian to learn about painting, but soon turned to Egyptology
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
. In 1939, he graduated from the IVe section of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes with a thesis on Ancient Egyptian funerary objects and was appointed resident of the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology of Cairo (IFAO). He participated in excavations in Karnak
Karnak
The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast mix of decayed temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II . Sacred Lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some...
and directed an excavation in Tod
TOD
Tod may refer to:Surname:* James Tod, British East India Company army officer and political agent, author of Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan* John Tod, 1779-1830, an historical member of the U.S...
.
Upon his return to France, he joined CNRS (1949–1955). During all these years, he pursued research on the relationship between Egyptians and pre-Hellenes, providing some firm conclusions on the relationship between these two great civilizations and the history of the ancient Aegean world. He was appointed professor at the University of Lille
University of Lille
The original university in the Lille region of France was the University of Douai established in 1559 in Douai and that was moved to Lille in 1887.University campuses in the Academy of Lille are members of the Université Lille Nord de France and European Doctoral College Lille Nord-Pas de...
in 1960 and was one of the pioneers in archaeological research into Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
. Between 1960 and 1964, he concentrated on studying Kor
Kor
Kor refers to:*Kor River, an important river in the Fars province of Iran that may have been named after Cyrus the Great .*Kor , a Klingon character in the fictional Star Trek universe...
and Aksha
Aksha
Aksha may refer to:*Aksha, Sudan, site of a Temple of Ramesses II*Tuvan akşa, the currency of Tuva between 1934 and 1944*Aksha, Kazakhstan, a populated place in Kazakhstan*Aksha, Russia, a rural locality in Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia...
, where he had been working in part since 1953, as they were threatened by the construction of the new Aswan Dam
Aswan Dam
The Aswan Dam is an embankment dam situated across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt. Since the 1950s, the name commonly refers to the High Dam, which is larger and newer than the Aswan Low Dam, which was first completed in 1902...
. He excavated structures such as the temple of Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
, a Meroitic
Meroitic
Meroitic is an adjective referring to things related to the kingdom of Meroë in pre-Islamic Sudan.* The Meroitic period was approximately 300 BC to 400 AD.* The Meroitic script was their writing system....
cemetery, as well as other small cemeteries. Vercoutter also excavated at the site of Saï
Sai
-Education:*self-accrediting institution, a three-letter acronym in use in higher education in Australia to describe universities and other SAIs-Fiction:*Fujiwara no Sai, a character in Hikaru no Go media*Sai , a character in Naruto media...
.
He was Director of the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale
.The Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale , also known as the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo is a French research institute based in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and languages of the various periods of Egypt's civilisation.The IFAO is...
from 1977 to 1981. Until his death in 2000 he was still active in the subject, publishing Les barrages pharaoniques. Leur raison d'être in 1994.
Publications
- With Cyril AldredCyril AldredCyril Aldred was a British Egyptologist, art historian and author.-Early life:Cyril Aldred was born in Fulham, London, the son of Frederick Aldred and Lilian Ethel Underwood the 6th of 7 children .Aldred attended Sloane School, in Chelsea, and studied English at King's College London, and then...
, J.L. Cenival, F. Debono, Christiane Desroches NoblecourtChristiane Desroches NoblecourtChristiane Desroches Noblecourt was a French Egyptologist. She was the author of many books on Egyptian art and history and was also known for her role in the preservation of the Nubian temples from flooding caused by the Aswan Dam.-Background:She was born Christiane Desroches on November 17...
, Jean-Philippe LauerJean-Philippe LauerJean-Philippe Lauer , was a French architect and Egyptologist.He was born in Paris, France and originally studied architecture, but in 1926 he went to Egypt. Here he met and married Marguerite Jouguet....
et Jean LeclantJean LeclantJean Leclant was a renowned Egyptologist who was an Honorary Professor at the College of France, Permanent Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions and Letters of the Institut de France, and Honorary Secretary of the ....
, Le temps des pyramides, L'univers des formes, Gallimard, Paris, 1978. - With Ch. Desroches Noblecourt, Un siècle de fouilles françaises en Égypte 1880-1980, à l'occasion du centenaire de l'école du Caire (IFAO), musée du Louvre, musée d'art et d'essai, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 21 mai / 15 octobre 1981, IFAO, Le Caire, 1981.
- Essai sur les relations entre Égyptiens et pré-hellènes, n°6, L'orient ancien illustré, A. Maisonneuve, Paris, 1954.
- L'Égypte et le monde égéen pré-hellénique, étude critique des sources Égyptiennes du début de la Dynastie égyptienne XVIIIe à la fin de la XIXe dynastie égyptienne, n°22, BdE, IFAO, Le Caire, 1956.
- L'Égypte ancienne, Que sais-je ?, n°247, PUF, Paris, 1960, 1982.
- Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire, Livre du Centenaire (1880-1980), n°104, MIFAO, Le Caire, 1980.
- Les Affamés d'Ounas et le changement climatique de la fin de l'Ancien Empire, MGEM, IFAO, Le Caire, 1985.
- À la recherche de l'Égypte oubliée, Gallimard, Paris, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1998 et 2000.
- L'Égypte et la vallée du Nil, des origines à la fin de l'ancien empire 12000-2000 Av. J.-C., Nouvelle Clio, PUF, Paris, 1992.
- Le déchiffrement des hiéroglyphes égyptiens 1680-1840, pp. 579–586, The Intellectual Heritage of Egypt, Budapest, 1992.
- La fin de l'Ancien Empire : un nouvel examen, Vol. 2, pp. 557–562, Atti del VI Congresso Internazionale di Egittologia, Turin, 1993.
- Les barrages pharaoniques. Leur raison d'être, pp. 315–326, Les problèmes institutionnels de l'eau en Égypte ancienne et dans l'Antiquité méditerranéenne, IFAO, Le Caire, 1994.
- Étude des techniques de construction dans l'Égypte ancienne, 3, la décoration des parois, son principe et les dangers d'équivoques qu'elle peut entraîner en ce qui concerne la datation des édifices, MGEM, IFAO, Le Caire, 1985.