NEWTON, MA | May 1, 2002
Ancient tombs, pottery shards, and buried skulls…are all part of digNubia, a traveling exhibit that allows visitors to explore an archaeological dig while uncovering an ancient culture. The exhibit, to be unveiled May 6th at the Harriet Tubman House, 566 Columbus Avenue in Boston’s South End, is geared for middle-schoolers but can be enjoyed by all ages. The exhibit will run through June 28, 2002.
The digNubia exhibit is part of a larger after-school program based on extensive ongoing archaeological fieldwork being conducted in a part of Africa historically called Nubia, now modern Sudan and Southern Egypt. The traveling exhibit set up at the Tubman House offers hands-on activities using science and math applications needed in real archaeological research. It also introduces visitors to the work of archaeologists, scientists, pottery specialists, surveyors, geophysicists and others involved in the actual dig taking place in the Sudan.
The digNubia exhibit gives visitors an inside look at the tools, techniques, and ingenuity that archaeologists and others use to reconstruct the ancient past from the limited clues that are available,” said Kristen Bjork, digNubia project director. “The general public will come away from the exhibit with an appreciation for using the scientific method to unlock the secrets of societies that have been buried for centuries,” Bjork said.
The digNubia exhibit includes an optional 30-minute documentary film that introduces the viewer to Nubian archaeology today and features some of the ancient sites of the Sudan and the scholars involved in revealing their mysteries. Students and others can follow up on the digNubia exhibit by logging on to the accompanying web site. The site not only features archaeological puzzles and games for students, but also includes hands-on activities and resources for educators, providing guidance and support for using the site in the classroom.
“This is our first community-wide program for children, parents, adults, and educators and I’m thrilled that United South End Settlements (USES) is the first community agency to offer this wonderful exhibit to the city,” said Sandra Furey Gaither, President of USES. “We plan to make good use of this opportunity to share the wonders of archaeology and the importance of the ancient treasures of Nubia,” Furey Gaither said.
