Past Preservers

Hear the Voice of Egypt’s Youth

2011-12-18T14:57:00.000+02:00

CONTACT:

Nigel Hetherington

Media Consultant

nigel@25online.tv

+20 1003461169

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Egypt, Cairo - 18th December 2011 - 25TV is proud to announce the launch of our new English language Youtube Channel, which will open up an exciting platform of original Egyptian news and current affairs programming to the English speaking world. Get closer to the stories and the people of Egypt as they go through a period of profound change that will effect the future of the region and the world.

Young people lead Egypt’s January 25 revolution using new technologies and ways of communicating that no one expected. 25TV is at the forefront of this new generation of media enterprises with its multi-platform approach to reporting on and interacting with the world around it. As well as broadcasting on satellite frequencies 25TV is continually expanding its presence on Twitter, Facebook and now Youtube.

Launched earlier this year, 25TV is a new satellite channel based on the principles of the January 25 revolution: democracy, freedom and social justice. Committed to honest and non-biased programming, 25TV encourages transparency and interactivity, and dedicates large segments of its programming to people-oriented issues and concerns. From reporters to cameramen and presenters, 25TV is staffed by the Tahrir Generation who are reshaping the media landscape in Egypt.

25TV works in partnership with Video Cairo Sat that has provided a platform for free speech for over forty years. In keeping with this mission VCS has been working tirelessly since January 25th 2011 to document and transmit the free voice of the Egyptian revolution to the entire world.

25TV Website http://25online.tv

English Subtitled Shows http://www.youtube.com/25TVeng

English language Facebook Page http://tinyurl.com/cm8fazr

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-12T14:07:00.000+02:00

Walk Historic Southend with Past Preservers!

2011-12-05T15:18:00.001+02:00

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—5^th December 2011—PastPreservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of anew Rama tour that charts the fascinating development of Southend in England, from afishinghamlet to a fashionable seaside resort.

“Southend-on-Seabegan life as a tiny hamlet at the ‘South End’ of Prittlewell parish,” enthusedwriter and local historian Ian Yearsley,“but thanks to the successful cultivation of oysters and the arrival of therailway in 1856 the town soon reinvented itself in popular memory as the placeto go for a seaside break”.

The tour covers some of the more importantGeorgian and Victorian attractions to give the reader a feel for the fledglingtown which still lies hidden behind the modern town. These include SouthendPier, the Royal Hotel and the Kursaal.

Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, stated“we are very lucky to have Ian Yearsley writing for us. He has writtenextensively on the history of his native Essexand published eight books, several of which have topped local bestseller lists.Ian has used all of his insight and knowledge to create the HistoricSouthend tour. It includes the kind of details and appreciation forSouthend that only come with a lifetime of living locally."

“Historic Southend is another great addition to our catalogueof tours” reported Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of PastPreservers. “Over 100 more tours are on their way and we are always interestedin finding new and creative authors to join our happy band of writers.”

Rama can bedownloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and was named as one of the tenbest new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March2010 with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data and theworld.

Contact:

Nigel J.Hetherington MA

CEO andFounder

PastPreservers

Nigel@pastpreservers.com

www.pastpreservers.com

25TV Goes to the Polls

2011-11-29T17:32:00.001+02:00

Shuruk el Attar reports from Muhammad Mahmoud Street
Laurence Underhill 2011

Cairo, 29^th November 2011 - With recent events in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and the ongoing political turmoil in Egypt, 25TV was the first news channel to arrive on the scene. During the violent clashes between security forces and protestors, 25TV reported from both inside the Ministry of Interior and from Mohamed Mahmoud Street and presented exclusive, extensive & continuous live coverage of the events. Throughout these tumultuous events 25TV upheld its policies of unbiased and accurate reporting, and will continue to do so while providing minute-by-minute coverage of
the news as it happens.

Protesters and Police on Muhammad Mahmoud Street
Laurence Underhill 2011

Suchhas been the importance of these events that they have affected both theinternational community as well as the Egyptian people who are living throughthem. And yet some of the most critical moments lie ahead: parliamentaryelections began on Monday, elections that promise the beginning of a new eraand an important step towards democracy. In accordance with our unwavering policy of integrity and impartiality, we are coveringthe election process from various strategic locations across the Egyptiancapital, including Tahrir Square, Shubra, and Heliopolis.

Duringthe Phase One of the vote 25TV provided coverage in cities across thecountry, including, Alexandria, Assiut , Cairo, Damietta, Fayoum, , Kafr el sheik, Luxor, Port Said, and Red Sea.

For Phase Two, we will report from locations in Aswan, Beheira, ,Beni-Soueif, Giza, Ismailiya, Munufiya, Sharqiya, Suez and Suhag.

Ayman Atef films Muhammad Mahmoud Street for 25TV
Laurence Underhill 2011

ForPhase Three, we will report from locations in Dakahlia, Menya, El Wadi ElGedeed, Garbia, Kalioubya, Kena., Matrouh, Northen Sina and Southern Sinai.

25TV believes ina better Egypt for all, where freedom, justice and equality are not just aright but a reality. Change begins with the few who put their lives on the lineto pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. Change starts here.

For further information please contact: nigel@25online.tv

Address – 1121 Kornish El Nile Street, Cairo, Egypt

25TV website - http://25online.tv

http://www.facebook.com/25TVeg

@25TVeg

Tahrir Square
Laurence Underhill 2011

Walk Argentina's history in Buenos Aires!

2011-11-27T12:49:00.000+02:00

Take a walk with Past Preservers throughthe History of Argentina

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—26^thNovember 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announcedtoday the launch of their new tour Heart of Buenos Aires exploring the crucial events in Argetina’shistory that took place along the road from the Plaza de Mayo towards the CasaRosada state house.

British writer, photographer and picture editor Kate Stanworth uses all of her story telling skillsto bring alive the iconic processional route that runs through the center ofBuenos Aires. “While working as a journalist and photographer in the capital,”said Kate Stanworth. “I became fascinated by the sheer amount of historythat lay along this short route that stretches out from the Plaza de Mayo. Thissquare is not only the site of revolutions, famous speeches and great acts ofresistance, but also the colony’s very birthplace. It was the point whereSpanish explorers set foot from their ships in the 16^th Century.”

Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, the creator of theRama app, stated “starting at the Plaza de Mayo, the beating heart of Argentina’spolitical life, the Heart of Buenos Aires carries you through nearly five centuries of Argentina’s history.”Adding, “Kate Stanworth has done a fine job of mixing historical information withobservation and insight to produce one of our most engaging tours to date.”

Kate Stanworth has written for publications such as Time Out (in Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and London), RangefinderMagazine (US) and Raw Vision (UK), and has contributed her photos to manypublishers, magazines and NGOs. She has a Masters in Art History from Goldsmiths Collegeand is currently working as a freelancer, based in London.

Rama was voted one of the ten best new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010 and will be available for Androidlater this year.

Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRamaand author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Crimson Bamboo is a NewYork City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March 2010 with themission of creating new convergences between people, data and the world.

Contact:

Nigel J.Hetherington MA

CEO andFounder

PastPreservers

Nigel@pastpreservers.com

www.pastpreservers.com

+20103461169

Call for Authors

2011-11-24T15:44:00.001+02:00

Past Preservers is looking for writers with the wit and flair to bring historyalive through the Rama application for smart phones. Rama is an exciting travelapplication that combines engaging and knowledgeable writing with uniquehistorical images. The tours are designed around a series of waypoints thatallow users to discover the hidden past and engage with the present.

If you have a historical passion that you wantto share with the world, and the images in mind to do it, we would love to hearfrom you. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Rama was named as one of the ten best new travel apps by BBCTravel in 2010 and can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama.

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March2010 with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data and theworld.

Contact:

info@pastpreservers.com for furtherdetails

The PastPreservers Team

Follow Van Gogh’s footsteps in London!

2011-11-15T13:30:00.001+02:00

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—15th November 2011—PastPreservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of theirnew Rama tour VanGogh in London that takes you on a journeyexploring the dramatic effect Londonhad on the artist.

“Van Gogh wanted people to simply share his mind and his eyes”, says tour author Samuel Ali, “to see the unstable tangle of tragedy and beauty that he found in the world. He has no message, only an invitation – ‘share with me my view for a moment’.” Through retracing the moments and events of his life, Ali allows the reader to edge closer to Vincent van Gogh’s view of the world.

Law graduateAli shares his passion for art, history and literature with a Rama tour thatexplores Van Gogh’s life before he became an artist. He spent most of his earlytwenties in Englandwhere it seemed he had everything to succeed; influential family and artistcontacts in the industry, a deep fascination for art and a circle of friendswho shared his passion. Yet Londonwas where this career was lost. Following what has been described as abreakdown, Van Gogh was to return to Englandfrom a spell in Paris.By then, however, he had given himself to a fervent religious pull that drewhim away from his career in the commercial art world of London.

“Samuel Ali highlights the great paradox of Van Gogh’s artistic career”, explains Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, “that although he left London unable to continue his career as an art dealer, it was a crucial period in which he developed his artistic sensibilities and awareness of the world around him.”

Rama can bedownloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and was named as one of the tenbest new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March2010 with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data and theworld.

Past Preservers, founded by Nigel J. Hetherington in 2005, taps into its extensivenetwork of archaeologists, historians, Egyptologist, engineers, geologists andother specialists to provide historical and archaeological consultancy, andprofessional support to the media industry. With offices in Cairoand London, and representatives throughout theMiddle East, North America and Europe, PastPreservers has a strong hold on the international media scene, having completedassignments for the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Al-JazeeraInternational, TLC and Living Channel.

Contact:

Nigel J.Hetherington MA

CEO andFounder

Past Preservers

Nigel@pastpreservers.com

www.pastpreservers.com

+20103461169

Discover the Dome of the Rock!

2011-11-12T15:37:00.001+02:00

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—12th November 2011—PastPreservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launchof a new Rama tour that explores the unique Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

Matthew Morowitz’s tour, The Dome of the Rock, sets out to lead the reader through the centuries of history and religious devotion that helped to make the Dome of the Rock a unique place in the world.

Morowitz is an award winning scholar who graduated from Dickinson College in the

, when he specialized in both Archaeology and Art History. He draws on skills from both of these disciplines to introduce the visitor to the history, architecture and decoration of the Dome structure.

“The Dome of the Rock is such an important sitefor world heritage”, explained Michael Carroll co-founder of CrimsonBamboo, “we are keen to publish Morowitz’s well-written and informative guideto help visitors understand the complex layers of art and history that continueto fascinate and inspire through out the centuries.”

"I wasinterested in the Dome of the Rock after taking some Islamic Art andArchaeology courses during my time abroad.” Stated Morowitz. “I was veryinterested in the mosaics of the structure, as well as the connections itshared with architecture of Classical Antiquity. In this tour is I amtrying to present as much about the different histories that have shaped theappearance of the building over time."

Rama was named as one of the ten best new travel apps by BBCTravel in 2010 and can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama.

Author infopacks can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March2010 with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data and theworld.

Contact:

Nigel J.Hetherington MA

CEO andFounder

PastPreservers

nigel@pastpreservers.com

www.pastpreservers.com

Never Forget

2011-11-11T12:37:00.001+02:00

Eid Adha Mubarak--kull 'am wa-antum bi-khayr!

2011-11-07T12:07:00.000+02:00

Past Preservers People is Seeking Two Hosts for a Major US TV Series

2011-10-11T12:14:00.000+02:00

LOS ANGELES, LONDON,and CAIRO—11^thOctober 2011—Past Preservers People is pleased to announcethat we are seeking two presenters for a new archaeological television series currently in pre-production for a major US TV Network.

We are looking for two professional archaeologists,one female and one male; ideally who have experience in presenting archaeology tothe public, however a passion for their field and a strong academic backgroundis more important for the roles than previous TV experience.

Intelligence, natural curiosity and apassion for archaeology however are a must!

Both hosts should be US nationals andover 35 years of age.

We will expectthe two hosts to be on location for approx. 20 days in total and all shootswill be between May and October of 2012 in the USA. However the actual digs and theirlocations are still to be confirmed.

If you are interested in becoming one ofthe presenters please contact Past Preservers People. If you are notcurrently on our expert database please complete the online registration form http://tiny.cc/n4ybd (it’s held on Google docsand is very secure!) and we will also need the following info from you tocomplete the application-

A current CV
Two pictures, one head shot and one full body, please do not embed in your CV or into the body of the email text. Please send as attached jpegs and ensure that only are you in the shot. Action pictures work better than formal shots!
A short video audition (3 to 5 minutes MAX) describing yourself and your work and interests. This doesn’t need to be the next Oscar nominated short, but please think carefully about the setting and subjects and technical aspects such as sound and lighting. The best way to get this to us is via services such as YouSendIt or Dropbox etc, or you upload the clip to a video sharing site, such as YouTube or Vimeo and then just send us the link. Please do not attach the videos to the email as our server will not accept them.

Please send all documentation to @ casting@pastpreservers.com nolater than the 28^th October 2011.

Past Preservers People operates as aboutique management agency representing professionals from around the globe,who have a wide range of skills & achievements in the heritage sphere. Additionallywe manage an extensive database of specialists for all your programme needs.

For further information about PastPreservers People please visit our website @ http://www.pastpreservers.com/ourpeople.html

Taking leave, An International Competition “Egyptian's Dream City"”

2011-10-02T09:38:00.001+02:00

Writingthe History of our Future

New thought requires taking leave of the old andbuilding anew; hence Akhenaton’s Tel Amarna, or the establishment of Christian Constantinopleor the hijra from Mecca to Medina. After the 25 January revolution, itis no longer possible for Egypt to work and grow within the old valley andleave (95%) of its area unutilized. The desert is our Noah’s Ark and it iswhere we will build a history for our future. Futuristic ideas anddevelopmental initiatives (building civilizations) will not at this stageresolve the issue of Egypt’s future. What is needed is a new generation(builders of civilization) that takes responsibility for the future. This willonly happen through education, scientific research, technical knowledge base andnew unconventional thought that relies on integration, democracy, dialogue, communityparticipation.

The Centre for Sustainability and Future Studies ofthe British University in Egypt, in conjunction with the M.Farid Khamis Foundation for Social Development and in partnership with governmentaland non-governmental organizations proposes an international competitionon Taking Leave of the Valley. Applying a different methodology willresult in an alternative set of questions and answers, the competitiondocuments comprise a comprehensive collection of initiatives for alternativesettlements that reflect the goals and spirit of the 25 January Revolution. Theaim of the competition is to conceptualize, through scientific research anddemocratic process, the many beginnings of a livable sustainable urbansettlement of the future under the name 25 January; City of the EgyptianDream. The competition will be organised over two stages:

Stage I:

1) Planning of a sustainable contemporary city of the future that could beindustrial, agricultural, service-based, touristic, or could function as anational capital.
2) Conceptualisation of the ‘taking leave scenario’ (timeframe and responsibilities) as inspired by social reality of the 25 Januaryrevolution

During the first anniversary of the 25 JanuaryRevolution, an international workshop will be held to shortlist qualifyingsubmissions to continue to Stage II. Prizes for creative approaches may beawarded at the Jury’s 10 honorary prizes of LE 5,000 each.

Stage II:

3)Green Architecture applications on the Design of a suitable residential type.
4) Design of a showcasepilot building that addresses pivotal economic or investment needs.

First Prize LE100,000

Second PrizeLE 75,000

Third Prize LE50,000

HonorableMentions LE 20,000

The submission deadline for Stage I is 5/1/2012. Theaward-giving ceremony with international jury will be held in conjunction withan exhibition and international workshop on the occasion of the 25^thof January celebrations. Stage II details will be announced then.

For information, terms and conditions contact: csfs2011@bue.edu.eg

The Plague Lives Again with Past Preservers!

2011-08-28T17:15:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—28th August 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new Rama tour through the horrors of the Black Death of 1665.

“Julian Walker’s tour, The Great Plague of London, transports you back to London's darkest historical chapter,” explained Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, the creator of the Rama iPhone app. “It allows you to walk in death's footsteps as you follow the narration in the words and drawings of those who actually lived through the epidemic.”

Walker is an artist and writer interested in language and social history, who lives in London and teaches at the British Library. He has worked with several major museums in the UK and abroad, and is the author of the Discovering Words series published by Shire Books. He has studied at St Martin’s College of Art and Design, and holds a Masters degree in English Literature, a perfect combination with which to illustrate his tour with wonderful contemporary quotes and adapted woodcut images.

“The Great Plague of 1665 was a phenomenon which put enormous pressure on London and its people,” stated Walker. “Through the nine months of the epidemic we see Londoners at their best and at their worst, applying absurd regulations and grasping for empty remedies, and at the same time nursing each other despite the risk of almost certain death. As a Londoner I am amazed that the physical effects of the Plague can still be seen in my city 350 years after it happened. It's a great story of despair and survival, and one that shows how fragile and resilient this city is.”

“The Great Plague of London is the tenth tour produced by Past Preservers for the Rama app, which is available for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad,” reported Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of Past Preservers, proudly. “For only $2.99, it is now possible to discover all the gory details of one of London's most horrible tragedies!”

Rama was named as one of the ten best new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010 and can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Past Preservers Walks through the Wild Side of Winchester

2011-08-23T10:58:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—18th of August 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new tour for the iPhone that explores the brutal roots of England’s original capital.

Today, Winchester is known as a small, quaint city and the host of the annual Hat Fair, Britain's longest-running street theatre festival. Voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the UK, the city hasn't always been this genteel, however, and Kaye Jones’ tour, Medieval Winchester, takes you through a romp of the bloodier reality.

“Modern Winchester is peaceful and popular with tourists, but I wanted to write a tour to show that this hasn't always been the case,” stated Jones, a graduate in Historical Studies, who fell in love with the subject a long time ago and has never looked back! A writer of e-books for History in an Hour, Jones’ forte is to reconnect with the past and show how our society has changed and developed over time.

“From the Norman Invasion in 1066 to the Black Death in 1348, Winchester was at the heart of some of the most turbulent events in our history and I wanted to bring this to life for visitors. I think the opportunity to see how ruined buildings, like Winchester Castle and Wolvesey Palace, used to look and to learn about how they came to be this way will be attractive to readers and will change the way that people think about this great city.”

Medieval Winchester is available for $1.99 on Rama, an augmented reality app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad that takes users on historical walking tours, which not only tell the story behind the stops on the tour, but also show historical images of how those locations appeared in the past. Rama was voted one of the ten best new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010 and will be available for Android later this year.

Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Past Preservers People Needs Male Host Investigators for History Channel Series

2011-08-19T19:01:00.000+02:00

A US-based production company is seeking two male Hosts for a series currently in development with the History Channel. Each episode in the series will look at a different milestone event, object, or device. Often, but not always, these will be natural or manmade disasters.

Each program will dissect the event, examining it from different perspectives, angles, and points-of-view. The goal of each episode is to investigate the topic, and by the end of the program, shed new light or understanding on it.

The two Hosts must be Investigators of a sort. They will lead the viewers through the story, breaking down the subject. The Hosts will do their investigating both on a set and in the field. The investigation will have a forensic approach, grounded in engineering.

Host #1 should be an expert in the process of analysis and investigation. A background in investigation or engineering would be helpful but not essential, as long as he has a grasp of basic investigative principles. You must have a passion for history without being too straitlaced. An engaging personality is critical (a sense of humour is welcome!), and must work well with Host #2.

Host #2 should have experience in the digital world. Whereas Host #1 will be familiar with forensic investigation, Host #2 will be familiar with computers and digital technology. Host #2 will bring digital techniques and ideas to the investigation – for example ways of visualizing perspectives inside the event or object that may not be physically possible in the real world.

Host #2 might be (but does not have to be) somewhat younger than Host #1. Being a little bit nerdy wouldn't hurt -- but not at the expense of personality. Host #2 must be a good “sidekick” and partner, but also able to hold his own weight, and must be comfortable working with Host #1.

In the field, Hosts will meet with participants, witnesses, and/or experts in each episode’s subject. They may also consult a CSI-type lab facility for technical assistance. On set, Hosts will interact with a variety of digital imagery relating to that episode’s focus; they must be (or be able to become) comfortable working with greenscreen and objects that are “not there” in real life but will be added later.

Both hosts should be males from North America in the 25 - 50 age range.

If you are interested in becoming one of the Hosts please contact Past Preservers People asap letting us know which position interests you. If you are not currently on our database please complete the online registration form http://tiny.cc/n4ybd (its held on Google docs and is very secure!) and we will also need the following from you to complete the application-

A current CV
Two pictures, one head shot and one full body, please do not embed in your CV or email and please only you in the shot and action pictures work better than formal shots!
A short video audition (3-5 mins MAX), describing you and your work and interests, this doesn’t need to be the next Oscar nominated short, but please thing carefully about the setting and subjects and technical aspects such as sound and lighting. The best way to get this to us this to us is via services such as YouSend it or Dropbox etc or you upload the clip to a video sharing site, such as YouTube or Vimeo and then just send us the link.

Please send all emails to us @ casting@pastpreservers.com and pointing out which Host position best suits you!

For more information about being represented by Past Preservers People please visit our website @ http://www.pastpreservers.com/ourpeople.html

We look forward to hearing from you,

The Past Preservers Team

Past Preservers People operates as a boutique management agency representing expert presenters from around the globe who have a wide range of skills & achievements in the heritage sphere alongside an extensive database of specialists for all your programme needs.

See the Darker Side of Ellis Island with Past Preservers!

2011-08-09T12:01:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—9th August 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new Rama tour that takes you through the immigrants’ ordeal of Ellis Island.

“From disembarkation to medical inspection to entrance into the land of opportunity (or, for the unlucky or politically unpalatable few, deportation back home), Hannah Murray’s Ellis Island shows this place as the hopeful immigrants who arrived her experienced it,” stated Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, the creator of the Rama app. “The tour recreates on your iPhone the history of this point of entry for the aspiring immigrants to whom over 40% of Americans trace their ancestry.”

Ellis Island is the sequel to Murray’s Land of Liberty tour, which captures the history and idealism behind the construction of the nearby Statue of Liberty. For $1.99 this tour continues to explore the theme of distinctive sites symbolic for Americans and their heritage, and the stories of the thousands of individuals who left the Old World for the New. It is illustrated with thought provoking and evocative contemporary archival photographs.

“I have been captivated by Ellis Island ever since I visited New York nine years ago,” explained Murray, who has previously worked as a volunteer at the Benjamin Franklin House in London, as well as at the British Museum. She describes history as her passion above all others and will shortly be taking a Masters degree in Public History at Royal Holloway. “I have studied the immigrant experience at university and the impact that it had on American society is what drew me to Ellis Island – the myth of an inclusive environment is somewhat dented by the restriction of Asian and eastern European immigrants, however. Photographs from the early 1920s show immigrants in detention pens, waiting to be sent back home, a part of Ellis Island which has been downplayed in contrast to the thousands leaving its shores to pursue the American Dream -- a life which, for some, was never that smooth in reality.”

“Ellis Island is the eighth Rama tour produced by Past Preservers and an excellent follow-up to Hannah’s other popular tour, Land of Liberty,” reported Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of Past Preservers. “Over 100 more tours are on their way and we are always interested in finding new and creative authors to join our happy band of writers.”

Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and was named as one of the ten best new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Hosni Mubarak trial: 'Every Egyptian will tune in' Nigel Hetherington CEO & Founder of Past Preservers

2011-08-03T10:30:00.000+02:00

Nigel Hetherington, Cairo

The mood here is very strange following the clashes between the police and protesters in Tahrir Square. State media said the area had become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour and was plagued by people drinking illegally and damaging property. A tightly regulated press helped to distort the truth and people were hoodwinked. Nothing gets Egyptians agitated more than the prospect of immoral activities.

It is regrettable that only the state media has the right to broadcast the Hosni Mubarak trial. I hope this ruling will be overturned at some point. Every Egyptian will tune in.

Everyone in Egypt is still in a state of disbelief that Mr Mubarak is going to stand trial. It took everyone by surprise, even the most outspoken critics of the regime.

There has been much debate as to whether this will be a show trial, a political charade involving Mr Mubarak's former allies passing down a watered down form of punishment. There have been only a few trials since the former regime was overthrown. This has resulted in a few convictions or very lenient sentences.

If the current interim government is serious about administering justice then Mr Mubarak's wife should also stand in the dock beside him. She was deeply involved in the running of the regime and should be answerable to the Egyptian people. At least his sons will face the courts.

Surprisingly, older Egyptians still have fond memories of Mr Mubarak. They choose to remember him as a war hero who brought stability and peace to the nation. They feel he has been punished enough and they want move forward to the future.

Younger Egyptians are adamant he must be prosecuted for his crimes.

In the end, I think Mr Mubarak will be convicted for high treason and sentenced to life imprisonment. I don't think he will be exiled or sentenced to death.

There has been huge pressure on the Egyptian government to move towards a European model of human rights. The eyes of the world are watching how Egypt will prosecute its most wanted.

Interviews by Elisabeth Ukanah

More @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14381303

Past Preservers experiences life as it was in Pompeii

2011-08-02T10:46:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—2^nd of August 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of Discovering Pompeii, a great new tour for Rama, an augmented reality app available for iPhone.

The tour, by Natasha Sheldon, explores what life was like for the ordinary person living in day to day Pompeii. Fresco murals from the town showing scenes of daily life, house plans, reconstructions, and even a photo of a carbonised loaf of bread, accompany the text, which takes you for a stroll down the Via del Abbondanza, the ‘Street of Abundance.’

“My idea was not to concentrate on the loss of the city in the eruption of 79AD, but to give the visitor a feel of the real Pompeii,” said Sheldon, a freelance writer with degrees in Ancient History and Archaeology, who specialises in Roman magic and religion. “The Via dell Abbondanza does just that. It was one of the main streets of the city, crammed with buildings and features that illustrate daily life in Pompeii. Grand and unusual houses are found next door to shops and workshops such as bakeries and fulleries. There are several beautiful gardens that show how residents tried to introduce the countryside into their homes, and even an urban vineyard and winery. Sex, politics and violence were also part of daily life, not only at the amphitheatre, but in taverns, bath houses and the graffiti on the walls too.”

Sheldon has been fascinated with this ancient and incredibly well-preserved site for as long as she can remember. She has visited Pompeii three or four times, but reports that there are still parts she needs to see! Recognising the challenge visitors face when going to the town for the first time, for $2.99 Discovering Pompeii introduces you to the heart and soul of this fascinating location and brings it alive once more.

Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama and author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Ramadan Kareem from the Past Preservers Team

2011-07-31T22:08:00.000+02:00

Ramadan Kareem to all our Muslim friends around the world, have a peaceful and joyful Ramadan.

Detroit is shown at its best with Past Preservers

2011-07-31T11:01:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—31 July 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new tour that showcases some of Detroit’s iconic buildings and explores the city during its affluent heyday.

Skyscrapers of Detroit by Renée Blackburn discusses the history of each unique location, including each building’s construction and architect, historical significance and current usage. Beautiful black and white archive images illustrate the text and really give the reader a sense of how awe-inspiring the heart of Detroit once was for only $0.99.

“The inspiraction for my tour comes out of my love of the city and its history,” explained Blackburn, who lives in Michigan and has a Masters degree in Industrial Archaeology. “My research interests include early 20^th century architecture and I hope that my tour will appeal to skyscraper and architecture enthusiasts alike with its variety of architecturally significant stops.”

Detroit’s early 20^th century skyline rivalled that of New York and Chicago, and in the early 21^st century still boasts some of the best examples of period architecture, Art Deco and Beaux-Art design in the United States. “This area of Detroit is also currently on the rise again as companies and people are moving back to it. It is quickly becoming a place for families to come, especially Campus Martius, the first stop on our tour,” added Blackburn.

The tour was produced by Past Preservers, a Cairo and London-based consultancy unifying history, archaeology and media, and published by Crimson Bamboo of New York, developer of Rama, the app that hosts the tour. The two companies have been working together since March this year to develop historical walking tours, like Skyscrapers of Detroit, which tell the story behind the stops on the tour and show historical images of how those locations appeared in the past.

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama can be downloaded for free at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama.

Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Objects from Tutankhamun's tomb returned to Egypt!

2011-07-30T21:54:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

Dr. Mohamed Abdel Maksoud, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt announced that this Tuesday, the 2^nd of August, Mr. Atif Abou el Dahab, the Deputy Head of the Phoranic Sector is coming from the States with 19 ancient Egyptian objects that have been in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection since the early 20th century. All of these small-scale objects, which range from study samples to a three-quarter-inch-high bronze dog and a sphinx bracelet-element, attributed to Tutankhamun’s tomb, which was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings.

On November 10^th 2010 the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Supreme Council of Antiquities signed Memorandum of Understanding for the return of those objects.

At the time that Howard Carter and his sponsor, the Earl of Carnarvon, discovered the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamun (reigned ca. 1336-1327 B.C.), the Egyptian government generally allowed excavators to keep a substantial portion of the finds from excavations undertaken and financed by them. However, during the decade that it took Carter and his team to recover the thousands of precious objects from this king’s tomb, it became increasingly clear that no such partition of finds would take place in the case of the Tutankamun tomb.

Owing to the splendor of the treasures discovered in the tomb, conjectures soon started nevertheless, suggesting that certain objects of high quality, dating roughly to the time of Tutankhamun and residing in various collections outside Egypt, actually originated from the king’s tomb. Such conjectures intensified after the death of Howard Carter in 1939, when a number of fine objects were found to be part of his estate. When the Metropolitan Museum acquired some of these objects, however, the whole group had been subjected to careful scrutiny by experts and representatives of the Egyptian government; and subsequent research has found no evidence of such a provenance in the overwhelming majority of cases. Likewise, thorough study of objects that entered the Metropolitan Museum from the private collection of Lord Carnarvon in 1926 has not produced any evidence of the kind.

The 19 objects now identified as indeed originating from the tomb of King Tutankahmun can be divided into two groups. Fifteen of the 19 pieces have the status of bits or samples. The remaining four are of more significant art-historical interest and include a small bronze dog less than three-quarters of an inch in height and a small sphinx bracelet-element, acquired from Howard Carter’s niece, after they had been probated with his estate; they were later recognized to have been noted in the tomb records although they do not appear in any excavation photographs. Two other pieces—part of a handle and a broad collar accompanied by additional beads—entered the collection because they were found in 1939 among the contents of Carter’s house at Luxor; all of the contents of that house were bequeathed by Carter to the Metropolitan Museum. Although there was discussion between Harry Burton (a Museum photographer based in Egypt, the Museum’s last representative in Egypt before World War II broke out, and one of Carter’s two executors) and Herbert Winlock about the origins of these works and about making arrangements for Burton to discuss with a representative of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo whether these works should be handed over to Egypt, that discussion was not resolved before Burton’s death in 1940. When the Metropolitan Museum’s expedition house in Egypt was closed in 1948, the pieces were sent to New York.

Past Preservers delves into Cambodia’s hidden temples

2011-07-27T13:22:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—27th July 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new Rama tour that uncovers the glories of the ancient Khmer kingdoms of Cambodia.

“Veronica Walker Vadillo’s tour, Cambodia’s Angkor Thom, was produced by Past Preservers and not only reconstructs the lost Khmer state that once ruled from this verdant jungle, but provides you images of how it appeared to the 19th century explorers who rediscovered its lost wonders,” explained Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, the developer of the Rama app.

“It is difficult to resist the lure of hidden temples in the jungle,” stated Walker Vadillo, a maritime archaeologist specialising in Southeast Asian archaeology, who will be starting her DPhil on Khmer shipbuilding techniques at the University of Oxford in October. “This tour was inspired by the wonderful work of Pierre Dieulefils, a 19^th century French photographer who knew how to capture on lens the essence of exploration that I've always yearned to experience. Angkor's cultural heritage is so vast, that you can still feel the thrill of exploration when you're left alone roaming the scattered passageways of temples far away from the tourists' path. In this tour, available for $1.99, I hope to recreate that moment of awe, when Western explorers were first confronted by the wonderful architecture of the Khmer people. Dieulefils was not the first to see the remains of Angkor, but his pictures offer a unique opportunity to turn back time and experience the discovery first hand.”

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama is a mobile phone platform that takes users on historical walking tours, which not only tell the story behind the stops on the tour (‘waypoints’), but also show historical images of how those locations appeared in the past. The Rama app is free to download and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It is available at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama where six free sample tours can also be found.

Author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Past Preservers explores an old face of the Grand Tetons

2011-07-19T10:59:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—19 July 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new tour that recreates the life of the lost community that once lived in Menor’s Ferry Historic District.

Grand Tetons’ Gateway by Ellen Dornan provides an exquisite insight into the history behind the nature of the Grand Tetons National Park. Through wonderful family photographs from the last century, Rama app users may explore the characters and conflicts that created this popular park. Discover what drove the Grand Tetons' transformation from open range in 1894 to ranch country to gentrified dude ranches and back to nature again in the 1940s for $0.99.

“On the banks of the Snake River and at the foot of the Grand Tetons, my hometown of Moose, Wyoming, is among the loveliest towns in America,” explains Dornan, an expert in innovative educational and interpretation projects. “I have found few pleasures greater than strolling around and enjoying the view. The recent discovery of a treasure trove of old Dornan family photos showed that previous generations also appreciated the scenery, and fought to preserve it in their own way. The photos show how radically the face of Moose has changed from those early days as well. This tour will introduce you to the people and the places that have long since vanished from Moose, while offering an excellent excuse to wander around and enjoy the scenery!”

“Grand Tetons’ Gateway is the fourth fantastic Rama tour produced by Past Preservers and we are very proud of it,” reported Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of Past Preservers. “Many more tours are on their way for Rama, an augmented reality app available for iPhone: over seventy are currently in production and we are always interested in finding new and creative authors, like Ellen, to join our happy band of writers.”

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama can be downloaded for free at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Great News! Tourists Return to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

2011-07-13T23:03:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Egyptian Museum Tourism

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities, announced high visitor levels to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo today. Dr. Hawass made it clear that visitor numbers have been increasing day by day in comparison to previous months.

“We are very happy to see an increase in tourism and we would like for it to continue,” he said.

Dr. Tarek el-Awady, Director of the Egyptian Museum, said it was good to see the long queues of tourists today and very promising for the future.

Seized Artifacts from Qantara Magazine

2011-07-13T22:51:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: 13^th July

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Seized Artifacts from Qantara Magazine

A committee, formed by the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA), has confirmed that the artifacts seized this week are those stolen from the museum magazine of eastern Qantara during the lawlessness on 28^th January 2011.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities, said that the committee, directed by Dr. Yosef Khalifa, examined each artifact in Case No. 127 of 2011 / Port Fouad and compared them to those listed in the Red List. The Red List, compiled by the International Council of Museums, catalogues Egyptian cultural objects at risk. It was submitted to Interpol and distributed internationally.

Dr. Hawass added that the artifacts (22 in total) include rare pottery dating back to the age of the Hyksos and five bronze coins dating to the Ptolemaic era.

Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Maksoud, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, confirmed that the artifacts seized had been listed on the Red List apart from the Ptolemaic era coins.

The Qantara museum magazine near the city of Ismailia on the Suez Canal was attacked on 28^th January by looters. Almost 300 artifacts have been returned to date, the majority by good citizens.

Lady Liberty shares her secrets with Past Preservers!

2011-07-07T09:43:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—7 July 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of a new Rama tour that will help banish those post-4th of July blues.

Land of Liberty by Hannah Murray guides you through the history, idealism, construction and even century-old terrorism that gave the world one of its most iconic symbols today. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful archival photographs, you can take a walk in the Statue of Liberty’s footsteps and learn the secrets of this beacon of freedom, created to embody the American Dream.

Murray, a recent graduate in History from University College London in the UK, has been interested in the history of the

United States

for many years. A volunteer at the Benjamin Franklin House in London, as well as the British Museum, she has travelled to New York City twice and has since been absolutely captivated by the iconic monument.

“During the late nineteenth century,” explained Murray, “hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Europe arrived in New York City to begin what they hoped would be a new life in America. Their experiences have become immortalized in film, particularly in the classic, Godfather II, in which a young Vito Corleone arrives at Ellis Island, sailing past the imposing and magnificent Statue of Liberty.”

The tour is available for $1.99 and begins with the early history of Battery Park before discussing the troubled logistics of Lady Liberty’s creation while you take the ferry to Liberty Island. There, you will learn all about the ‘Black Tom Island Explosion,’ which, Murray, who will shortly be following up her tour with another about Ellis Island, reported, “is not a well known event despite the fact it has repercussions for the Statue today.”

The tour was produced by Past Preservers, a Cairo and London-based consultancy unifying history, archaeology and media, and published by Crimson Bamboo of New York, developer of Rama, the app that hosts the tour. Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama is available for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama.

Author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Jobs in Egypt

2011-06-30T15:41:00.000+02:00

Two new posts for jobs in post-revolutionary Egypt!

Egyptologist for the Grand Egyptian Museum Project

The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is a new museum currently under construction near the pyramids of Giza. With 50,000 artefacts (including the entire Tutankhamun collection) on display, it will be a new home for the world’s greatest collection of ancient Egyptian art.
The GEM Project is seeking a full-time academic consultant who can join a small team of Egyptologists to review and develop the museum storylines and displays, and in due course to write exhibition texts for the museum. The term of contract is one year, with the possibility of extension. The project office and museum site are located near Ramaya Square near Giza Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
• Researching the background information on the museum collection
• Collaborating with the local Egyptologists in developing the museum content
• Liaising with and reporting to the exhibit design team, project management team, and the Ministry of State for Antiquities
• Composing and editing exhibition texts in agreed formats
QUALIFICATIONS:
• M.A. in Egyptology or a related field required (Ph.D. preferred); expertise in early phases of ancient Egyptian culture an asset
• Relevant experience in museum work, especially curatorial duties
• Excellent written English essential
STARTING DATE: August 1, 2011 onwards
Salaries commensurate with experience
Please send a statement of application, an updated CV, and two letters of reference by July 20, 2011 to Kei Yamamoto at k.yamamoto@utoronto.ca.
---

Vacancy for Internship

The Ministry of State for Antiquities in Cairo, Egypt (MSA, formerly the Supreme Council of Antiquities) is offering an unpaid internship for two months.

Position:

The internship is designed to offer administrative and media support to the MSA. The position requires native proficiency in the English language.

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

· Administrative support for the office

· Editing and organizing images for the Ministry’s Image Bank database

· Assisting with the gathering of content, editing, and uploading of material for websites

· Compiling and presenting information in the form of database records, spreadsheets and narrative reports.

Desired Skills:

· High level of written English

· Experience of social media websites

· Computer literacy, including standard Microsoft Office applications, Apple software and the Adobe Suite.

· Ability to multitask

· Interest in Egyptology and / or archaeology

Please send a recent CV and covering letter to: raniagalal@sca-egypt.org

Applications should be submitted by: Friday 8th July, 2011

Preferred start date: w/c 17th July, 2011

The position will be based at the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA), Zamalek, Cairo.

Past Preservers takes on the evil Illuminati!

2011-06-30T12:28:00.000+02:00

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—30 June 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of an exciting new Rama tour inspired by the work of Dan Brown.

Follow in the footsteps of Robert Langdon, the hero of Dan Brown’s bestselling book, Angels and Demons, as he seeks out the ‘Path of Illumination’ through Rome in Paolo Vigliarolo’s great new tour of the same name. The tour, available on Rama, an augmented reality app available for iPhone, provides a crash course to all the sites mentioned in the book, along with new insights into their history and meaning for $2.99.

Angels and Demons is an adventure of discovery of some of Rome’s hidden treasures that cross the boundaries between art and mystery. “In addition to famous places, like the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza Navona,” explains Vigliarolo, a native of the city and specialist guide with a degree in Cultural Heritage Conservation, “the tour also includes other, lesser known, examples from the Renaissance and Baroque periods within some of the most beautiful churches in Rome.”

Vigliarolo, founder of ArcheoCommons, where anyone can share their archaeological research online, decided to write his first Rama tour because he was enthused by the way that the adventures of Dan Brown’s characters could be explored via the app. He described Rama as a new, intuitive and appealing medium with which to tell the story of archaeology.

The tour was produced by Past Preservers, a Cairo and London-based consultancy unifying history, archaeology and media, and published by Crimson Bamboo of New York, developer of Rama, the app that hosts the tour. The two companies have been working together since March this year to develop historical walking tours, like Angels and Demons, which tell the story behind the stops on the tour and show archival images of how those locations appeared in the past.

Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of Past Preservers, reported that over seventy more tours are currently in production and encourages anyone with a creative flair to get in touch about how to get involved. “We are always interested in finding new and creative authors to join our happy band of writers,” he said.

Rama can be downloaded from iTunes and was named one of the ten best new travel apps by BBC Travel in 2010. Author information packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

Past Preservers is Looking for Passionate Writers to make History come Alive

2011-06-27T14:56:00.000+02:00

With Past Preservers' first two tours of the ancient world now available and sixty more on the way, now is a great time to get involved!

We are on the look out for creative individuals who can utilise Crimson Bamboo’s unique new iPhone platform, Rama, to make history come alive.

Uniting popular history with archival photographs, Rama adds a historical narrative to the walking tour and shows snapshots of the tour route as it once appeared.

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama is the only app that captures the experience of being in Chicago after the Great Fire, on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, or in Shanghai’s French Concession in the 'Roaring '20s.'

Send us an email about yourself and your tour idea to info@pastpreservers.com.

Whether it’s a jaunt through your university’s past, or a recreation of the recent protests and political reform in

Egypt

, if you make the idea sound compelling, we’ll give you the tools to make it into a tour!

Look out for Rama in the iTunes Store

Latest Archaeological Discovery from San el-Hagar

2011-06-27T13:02:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: 27^th June 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Latest Archaeological Discovery from San el-Hagar

French archaeologists in San El-Hagar have discovered hundreds of colored and inscribed limestone blocks, which they believe were used to build the sacred lake walls of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.

The limestone blocks may have belonged to King Osorkon II of the 22nd Dynasty and used for either a temple or chapel, announced Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities today. The stone may have also been reused in the late period and the Ptolemaic era. Dr. Hawass added that following a complete excavation and study of the blocks, the French mission would reconstruct the original arrangement to determine if they are from a temple or chapel.

Dr. Philippe Brissaud, director of the French mission, confirmed that the sacred lake measures about 30m by 12m with a depth of 6m. The team has so far cleaned about 120 blocks, 78 of which have inscriptions. Two blocks belong to King Osorkon III or IV, while the inscriptions mention the title “Mistress Mut of Isheru Lake” indicating both goddess and lake during the 21st and 22nd Dynasties.

Dr. Mohamed Abd el Maksoud, Head of Office at the Ministry of State for Antiquities, said that this discovery adds great importance to the San El-Hagar site, one of the most archaeologically rich areas of the delta known as the ‘Thebes of the north’. The region is a huge priority for the Ministry of State for Antiquities who have set aside a budget of 50 million L.E to lower the water table, control agricultural drainage, and build an open-site museum complete with visitors center, tourist facilities and a museum magazine.

Mr. Ibrahaim Suleiman, general manager of Sharkia archaeological sites, mentioned that San El-Hagar (Tanis during the pharaonic era), 70km northeast of Zagazig city, is one of the oldest Egyptian cities and contains many temples belonging to the god Amun. It was the capital of Egypt during the 21st and 22nd dynasties.

Excavation work began at this site in 1860 by Auguste Mariette, followed in 1884 by Flinders Petrie who discovered the Temple of Amun inside the old city. From 1928 to 1958 a French mission directed by Pierre Montet excavated the temples of Mut and Horus and the treasure of the royal necropolis, currently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Now under the direction of Dr. Philippe Brissaud, the inscriptions of this latest discovery are thought to be amongst the best quality reliefs to be found in Egypt.

Past Preservers’ first tour for iPhone now available to download

2011-06-23T18:13:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Past Preservers’ first tour for iPhone now available to download

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—23 June 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today the launch of the first tour of the ancient world on Rama, an augmented reality app available for iPhone.

Paul David Ritchie’s tour, Athenian Acropolis, gives you an easy and economical way to explore the ruins of the Acropolis in Greece from the convenience of your iPhone. It’s a journey not just through the Acropolis, but also through time, allowing users to witness the monument’s evolution from mythological inspiration to battlefield to Turkish mosque--for only $1.99.

Ritchie, from Ontario, Canada, has an MA in Aegean Archaeology from the University of Sheffield in the UK. “While there are significant ruins surviving on the Acropolis, they are nevertheless incomplete,” he explains. “My tour shows images of the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the multitude of other buildings which once occupied the site, intact and in vibrant painted colour as they would have originally been. This gives the viewer a completely different experience of the site. The tour also provides insight into the lesser known or perhaps neglected side of the Acropolis; its Venetian, Ottoman history.”

The tour was produced by Past Preservers, a Cairo and London-based consultancy unifying history, archaeology and media, and published by Crimson Bamboo of New York, developer of Rama, the app that hosts the tour. The two companies teamed up in March this year to develop historical walking tours, like Athenian Acropolis, which not only tell the story behind the stops on the tour, but also show archival images of how those locations once appeared.

“Athenian Acropolis is the first of many innovative Rama tours being produced by Past Preservers,” reported Nigel Hetherington, CEO and founder of Past Preservers. “Rama not only offers the perfect opportunity to reach new audiences using one of the most cutting-edge platforms available, but also offers our clients a new opportunity to write first-class historical content that they can sell directly to customers. Many more tours are on their way: fifty are currently in production and we are always interested in finding new and creative authors to join our happy band of writers.”

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama can be downloaded at http://bit.ly/iTunesRama. Author info packs can be requested by writing to info@pastpreservers.com.

###

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March 2010 with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data and the world.

Past Preservers, founded by Nigel J. Hetherington in 2005, taps into its extensive network of archaeologists, historians, Egyptologist, engineers, geologists and other specialists to provide historical and archaeological consultancy, and professional support to the media industry. With offices in Cairo and London, and representatives throughout the Middle East, North America and Europe, Past Preservers has a strong hold on the international media scene, having completed assignments for the History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Al-Jazeera International, TLC and Living Channel.

CONTACT:

Nigel J. Hetherington MA

CEO and Founder

Past Preservers

Nigel@pastpreservers.com

www.pastpreservers.com

+20 103461169

Treatment of Egyptians injured by the events of the Revolution

2011-06-20T15:51:00.000+02:00

According to our information, there would still be at least 500 seriously injured young men and women as a result of the Revolution events in Egyptian hospitals.
The objective of our volunteers’ team is to identify them and offer them the best possible medical treatment either here on-site in Egyptian hospitals which have the technical means to undertake advanced surgeries, or by sending them abroad for treatment.

Teams of volunteers and Egyptians living abroad (Germany, Austria, USA, Italy, Spain and others) are now mobilizing in order

- to raise funds

- to help bring to Egypt missions of volunteer surgeons.

Since February, several missions have come to Cairo including 28 surgeons: 18 from US, 5 from Austria and 5 from Germany.

Young people who are seriously injured were sent to Spain and to Italy (critical eye operations), a critically burned victim is being treated in Paris, a disfigured face victim in Zurich, and a young doctor covered with buckshot (hands, back, leg and arms) is being treated in Berlin.

We must cite the example of an Egyptian doctor who immigrated to Austria. Since the Revolution he comes every 2 weeks to Egypt and takes back with him every time a young wounded Egyptian for treatment in an Austrian hospital. He is returning to Cairo next weekend and we are preparing two teenagers to be taken to Austria with him.

The French government has supported the heavy treatment costs in case of a critically burned victim and we are preparing for the evacuation of two other cases. The Austrian government took over the case of a young paralyzed teen ager.

All other treatment costs were financed by national and international civil society contributions and we have been able to perform neuro-surgeries in hospitals here locally, either by Egyptian surgeons or by teams of volunteers.

Currently we are looking for surgeons of all specialties, preferably experienced to field work and performing in challenging conditions.

They could also help us examine patients in the Intensive Care Units and identify surgery needs and analyzing the patient medical records (radios, MRI ...) to identify cases that need or should undertake surgery.

While our team of volunteers are trying to obtain medical records and send them for examination abroad but these are often incomplete and direct examination is required.

For example, last weekend, two German surgeons, professors of neurosurgery and orthopedic visited 11 patients in a hospital in Cairo. After examining available documents (mostly X-rays) they identified three cases whose conditions are likely to improve after surgery.

They have operated on these patients in an Egyptian military hospital with operating rooms which are very well equipped.

They also have conducted 16 consultations for 16 out-patients wo were convened by us. Again 2 surgeries were decided and were performed.

The hospital provided us also with an adjacent hotel that is very comfortable.

The 500 cases we are talking about in this message refer to disabled youth that are now condemned to remain without proper medical intervention. Our objective is to verify if their condition is curable or and if so, we must offer them a second medical diagnosis and a chance to see their condition improve.

A young man who was sent to Germany for an operation on his spinal cord - and who had been left totally paralyzed - returned a few weeks later walking to Egypt.

We just want to make sure that the same opportunity is there to all those who are waiting and hoping.

Our Associations will pay for the airline tickets, visas, local transport and accommodation in Egypt.

Thank you for spreading this message to your surgeons’ friends and to members of surgeons associations

For your information and at your perusal we can send you the lists and details of medical cases and answer all inquiries

Thank you

Marianick Urvoy
President
Association Démocratique des Français à l'Etranger - Egypt Section

(ADFE), including members from Egypt and worldwide)
www.adfe.org / egypt
00 20 19 825 39 75

Special association ADFE bank account for this purpose :

Bank : BNP Paribas

Branch : Maadi, Cairo

SWIFT code : BNP AEGCXXXX

Account N° : 00078/045003/001/09

Association des Français à l'Etranger (ADFE)

Enhancing the Value of the Saqqara Archaeological Site

2011-06-03T14:44:00.000+02:00

Arab Republic of Egypt

Ministry of State for Antiquities

Selection of Consultants

Invitation for Expression of Interest

Enhancing the Value of Saqqara Archaeological Site

Conducting Site Management, Training and Setting Visitation Routing and Facilities for Saqqara Site in Egypt

The Government of Egypt has received financial assistance from the French Development Agency (AFD) towards the cost of the project, “Enhancing the Value of Saqqara Archeological Site,” and will use part of the proceeds in the provision of the following consultancy services: conducting site management, training and setting visitation routing and facilities for Saqqara.

The Egyptian Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) invites consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing these services (see the following summary) by the submission of supporting information (brochures, descriptions of similar assignments, experience in similar operating conditions, availability of appropriate professional qualifications and experience among staff, etc.) demonstrating their ability to provide the required services. Applicants may associate with other applicants to enhance their qualifications.

Comprehensive details of the desired consultancy services will be provided by the Terms of Reference at a later stage of the selection process.

A Consultant or a group of Consultants will be selected through the QCBS method and procedures following a Request for Proposals (RFP), in accordance with the latest Procurement Rules and Regulations enforced by the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Only short listed firms will be contacted to participate in the bidding process.

Your Expression of Interest is to be submitted at the latest by 12 noon, June 22, 2011, to the following email addresses:

Dr. Tarek El Awady, National Project Director: tarek.elawady@yahoo.com

Copied to

Dr. Naguib Amin, Technical Assistant: Nlouli@gmail.com

and

Ms. Beth Asbury, Administrative Assistant: blasbury@googlemail.com

More detailed information may be obtained at the same email addresses.

Dr. Tarek El Awady

National Project Director

Enhancing the Value of Saqqara Archaeological Site

Ministry of State for Antiquities

3 Al Adel Abu Bakr Street, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt

c.c.:

Ms. Marie-Pierre Bourzai, Project Manager, AFD: bourzaimp@afd.fr

Ms. Ola El Wakil, Project Manager, AFD Cairo: elwakilo@afd.fr

Dr. Naguib Amin, Technical Assistant: Nlouli@gmail.com

SUMMARY

Project Title: "ENHANCING THE VALUE OF SAQQARA ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE"

Purpose of the project: Preservation, site management and valorisation of Saqqara Archaeological Site (Memphis and its Necropolis).

Content of the consultancy services

1. Site Management Planning

§ Preparing a Conceptual Site Management Plan (SMP) of the area within and around the site of the Saqqara pyramids and its buffer zone (SMP Site) that includes and prescribes, but is not limited to, the following components:

An overview of existing conditions: a land and area plan; vision and strategy;

reviewed value and significance; risk analysis and preparedness measures; visitation proposals; priority conservation and maintenance measures; sustainability and capacity building measures; conceptual architectural designs for proposed routing, itinerary and facilities; a communication plan and pilot promotional material.

§ Preparing a Visitation Plan (VP) for the area within and around the Step Pyramid complex of Djoser (VP Site) that prescribes, but is not limited to, the following:

A review of existing conditions; a future site visitation plan; comprehensive risk analysis and risk preparedness measures; recommendations for lighting and night use; detailed architectural design of selected elements, facilities and installations; measures to control the deterioration of monuments and justified priority planning to implement the VP.

§ Preparing the designs and installation of 20 Visitation Panels, including -

Setting the location; creating the design and specifications; following tendering, production and installation.

2. On-the-job Training on Site Management

· Preparing syllabi and conducting on-the-job training for selected MSA officials and Inspectors of the Saqqara site (the training will be linked to the preparation of the SMP and VP); assisting in the selection of trainees and in integrating MSA assistant trainers, selected associated French archaeologists operating on the site; conducting the training; preparing and submitting training evaluation, manuals and reports.

The Ministry of State for Antiquities will open the New Kingdom Cemetery at South Saqqara Tomorrow

2011-05-22T13:07:00.000+02:00

Just in from the Ministry-

Tomorrow the Ministry of State for Antiquities will open the New Kingdom Cemetery at South Saqqara for the first time. This site contains the famous tomb of Maya, who was the treasurer of King Tut, as well as the tomb of Horemheb, the general of King Tut who later became king.

The Ministry is currently in the process of developing a management plan for the Saqqara site. It is hoped that this will enhance the value of the site as a visitor destination through better signage and facilities, as well as promoting local community involvement and an improved security presence.

This meeting to open the tombs will be at 9:30 on May 23 at the entrance to Saqqara.

PAST PRESERVERS & 25TV

2011-05-17T17:37:00.000+02:00

25TV is a new satellite channel based on the principles of

Egypt

’s January 25 revolution: democracy, freedom and social justice.

25TV encourages transparency and interactivity and dedicates its programming to people oriented issues and concerns.

We are committed to independent, honest and non-biased programming free of any political, religious or ideological affiliations.

The channel is inspired by and targets change seekers and catalysts for change, regardless of age, gender, race or personal beliefs.

Our first live broadcast on April 1 featured breakthrough coverage of a Friday protest at Tahrir Square.

On April 6th we provided special live transmission from the city of Mahalla to commemorate the April 6, 2008 strike, widely considered the spark that led to the January 25 revolution.

25TV CEO Mohamed Gohar is confident that 25TV will always have its finger on the pulse of the street, and promises that “people will see themselves on 25TV’s screen”.

Past Preservers is proud to be working with 25TV to produce “Toof Wi Shoof” (Travel and See).

Our line-up includes political, cultural and social programming led by a daily news bulletin providing special coverage that includes live reports and reactions from the street.

25TV broadcasts on 10911 Vert. Mhz 27500, and streams live on http://25online.tv

Follow 25TV-

http://twitter.com/25TVeg

http://www.youtube.com/25TVegy

http://www.facebook.com/25TVeg

Dr Zahi Hawass, The Minister of State for Antiquities is recruiting!

2011-05-17T12:21:00.001+02:00

Ministry of State for Antiquities

The Office of the Minister

Vacancies for Administrative Assistants

The Ministry of State for Antiquities in Cairo, Egypt (MSA, formerly the Supreme Council of Antiquities), seeks to hire Administrative Assistants for two one-year positions, renewable on an annual basis. Both positions are under the direct supervision of the Minister.

Candidates will be short-listed by interview (in person or over Skype) and may also be asked to submit samples of work upon request.

Preferred start date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Please apply asap

1. Administrative Assistant (Media Content)

This Administrative Assistant offers support to the Minister for media content requiring native proficiency in the English language and a background in Egyptology. The tasks associated with this position include, but are not limited to:

· accompanying the Minister on site visits and to press and cultural events, and keeping a photographic record of them

· editing and organizing images for the Ministry’s Image Bank database

· creating and posting content on the Minister’s personal website in the form of blog entries, event information, photos, publications and press releases

· answering fan mail received through the Minister’s website and Facebook

· researching Egyptological and administrative topics in order to support the Minister in his activities and decisions

· compiling and presenting information in the form of database records, spreadsheets and narrative reports

· assisting with the gathering of content, editing and uploading of material for the English MSA website

· coordinating with Egyptian colleagues to carry out other assignments as necessary

Desired skills include:

· excellent organizational and time management skills

· high level written English

· a basic understanding of photography is important, experience with photographic journalism or archaeological photography is a plus

· computer literacy, including standard Microsoft Office applications, Apple software and the Adobe Suite. Familiarity with Apple’s FileMaker and/or Adobe Dreamweaver is a plus

· a Masters degree with a focus on Egyptology, knowledge of specialized terms and standard reference works

· proficiency in at least one European language in addition to English is a plus

· the ability to multitask. Office experience is a plus

· the ability to work in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, sometimes with long hours

Please send a copy of your CV, two references, a portfolio of 5-10 photographs and an academic writing sample to Ms. Rania Galal at raniagalal@sca-egypt.org.

2. Administrative Assistant

This Administrative Assistant offers support to the Minister in administrative tasks requiring native proficiency in the English language and a background in Egyptology. These tasks include, but are not limited to:

· editing written correspondence in English from handwritten drafts or dictation

· editing English language reports, articles and other written material prepared by the Minister or his staff

· researching Egyptological and administrative topics in order to support the Minister in his activities and decisions

· compiling and presenting information in the form of database records, spreadsheets and narrative reports

· building and maintaining a database of images for use by the Ministry, including basic manipulation of digital images and identification of images for database records

· assisting with the gathering of content, editing and uploading of material for the English MSA website

· coordinating with Egyptian colleagues to carry out other assignments as necessary

Desired skills include:

· excellent organizational and time management skills

· high level written English

· computer literacy, including standard Microsoft Office applications, Apple software and the Adobe Suite. Familiarity with Apple’s FileMaker and/or Adobe Dreamweaver is a plus

· a Masters degree with a focus on Egyptology, knowledge of specialized terms and standard reference works

· proficiency in at least one European language in addition to English is a plus

· the ability to multitask. Office experience is a plus

· the ability to work in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment, sometimes with long hours

Please send a copy of your CV, two references and an academic writing sample to Ms. Rania Galal at raniagalal@sca-egypt.org.

First artifact to be returned to Egypt since the Revolution

2011-05-11T12:22:00.000+02:00

Ministry of State for Antiquities

The Office of the Minister

PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: First artifact to be returned to Egypt since the Revolution

A limestone stele of the Old Kingdom period (c. 2649-2134 BC), depicting a hunting scene from the daily life of its owner, is to be returned to Egypt by the Museum of Basel, Switzerland. The stele is 51 cm high and dates to the 5th Dynasty (c. 2465-2323 BC).

The Museum is returning the artifact to Egypt later this week as part of the repatriation campaign of Dr Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities (MSA), who, in 2002, when he was still the Secretary General of what was then the Supreme Council of Antiquities, threatened to cut scientific and research ties with any museums, universities or other institutions that held stolen antiquities from the country.

The Museum of Basel has volunteered to return this piece and has already sent back the eye of a colossal quartzite statue of Amenhotep III (c. 1390-1352 BC) found in 1970 at his funerary temple in Kom el-Hettan on the west bank of Luxor. The eye was smuggled out of the country, then loaned to the Museum by a private collector where it was recognized by Egyptologist, Hourig Sourouzian, and returned to the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, in October 2008.

Dr Hawass will shortly be contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange for a representative of the MSA to travel to Switzerland and collect the stele. The return of this object is also significant because it is the first artifact to be repatriated to Egypt from abroad since the Revolution.

Dr Hawass stated that the MSA is still continuing to pursue its campaign to repatriate stolen artifacts with determination and perseverance. In response to foreign criticism that the situation in Egypt is not safe enough for objects to be returned, Hawass pointed out that of the many museums in the country, the Egyptian Museum was the only one to suffer during the Revolution. The Museum was protected by a human chain of young people demonstrating in Tahrir Square and the one million tourists who were also in Egypt at the time all left the country safely too.

Hawass argued that if what happened in Cairo – that the police abandoned the streets for 4 hours on January 28, 2011 – had happened in any other city in the world, then there would be chaos, thefts and destruction on an even greater scale. Therefore he is still insisting that artifacts stolen from Egypt should be returned and added that many other pieces are due back soon.

Past Preservers Signs the Wood Brothers

2011-05-10T14:11:00.000+02:00

Los Angeles, London & Cairo, 10^th May 2011.

Past Preservers announced today that they have signed the Wood Brothers, Sam, Ben and Danny, to their successful and growing Talent Management Agency.

Past Preservers Talent Management, which launched in 2010, operates as a full-service talent agency representing individuals from around the globe who cover a broad range of achievements, skills, personalities and characters.

The Wood Brothers; Sam, an archaeologist, Ben, a software developer and Danny, a journalist share an enthusiasm for ancient history and travel and they recently followed in the footsteps of three ancient Carthaginian brothers Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. They cycled from Cartagena, Spain to Zama, Tunisia - the route that Hannibal and his army traversed over 2200 years ago. Along the way they filmed a six part documentary which was first aired on BBC4 in July 2010 and has since been repeated both on BBC 4 and BBC HD. The series was very well received and widely reviewed by the British media, including the Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail and Time Out, attracting over 2 million viewers during its first broadcast.

“It is great to be working with a dedicated historical agency. We are all looking forward to the many trails ahead!” said Sam, youngest Wood Brother and archaeologist.

Past Preservers, founded by Nigel J. Hetherington in 2005, taps into its extensive network of archaeologists, historians, Egyptologists, engineers, geologists and other specialists to provide historical and archaeological consultancy and professional support to the media industry. With offices in Cairo, Los Angeles and London and representatives throughout the Middle East, North America, and Europe, Past Preservers has a strong foothold in the international media scene, having completed assignments for the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, Al-Jazeera International, TLC, and the Living Channel.

“We are thrilled to represent these three talented brothers in their next adventure”, Nigel Hetherington CEO & founder of Past Preservers said today.

Watch video highlights of Wood Brothers' Hannibal adventure and read about ideas for future projects with Past Preservers:

http://www.bikerideintohistory.com/

Follow the Wood Brothers on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WoodBrothers

Hawass Response to Clothing Line Misunderstanding

2011-04-18T13:38:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: Monday, April 18, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Hawass Response to Clothing Line Misunderstanding

The Minister of State for Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, announced that the news published in the media concerning the use of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, to promote an American clothing line in his name is unfounded.

Dr. Hawass added that the photos used in the promotional campaign were taken on October 7, 2010, in New York City at the King Tutankhamun exhibition, and complied with all safety measure requirements. Hawass asserted that none of the authentic antiquities were handled during the shoot, as they served only as background, while only replica pieces were used by the models.

James Weber, the American photographer who took the photos, asserted in his interview with Danny Ramadan in the “Art in Revolution” Blog, that none of the authentic objects were touched in the shooting process and the chair and the bench used in some photos were replicas. Weber added that there was also some Photoshop involved in some of the images, such as the photo that shows a model with his foot against a wall, which appears to be decorated with hieroglyphic text. Weber also asserted that Dr. Hawass did not attend the shooting, which occurred in New York City.

Dr. Hawass stated that Tutankhamun’s chair is one of the unique objects prohibited from travelling abroad in any exhibition. Hawass stated that by the terms of his agreement with the clothing production company, his profits from this line will be donated to the 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital in Cairo. A letter to Dr. Sherif Abul Naga, Director of the hospital, was sent to him by Dr. Hawass clarifying these arrangements.

Past Preservers Seeks Active Archaeological Excavations for New Television Series

2011-04-13T18:14:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, LONDON, and CAIRO—13th April 2011—Past Preservers announced today that they are developing a new archaeological television series and are seeking participants from around the globe.

Using current archaeological excavations as a foundation to explore social change across space and time, each episode will focus on a single archaeological site, linking artefacts and features to longer-term historical developments. The series will explore how artefacts uncovered at each site can help to fill in the gaps in the narrative of the ancient past. Of particular interest for inclusion in the series are sites whose artefacts may challenge pre-existing theories or present new data for alternative explanations.

Each episode in the series will offer an unprecedented opportunity to gain invaluable exposure for a site and convey to the wider public the goals and intentions of the excavation. Ideally, each episode would feature the actual excavators themselves during an active season, from the excavation directors to the individual team members. We are looking for archaeologists who are keen to reveal to the public their latest discoveries; however, on-screen participation is not a pre-requisite for participation in the series.

Extensive graphics will be utilized to animate the unique problems encountered on each site and to show how archaeologists reconstruct past structures and site features. Additionally, the series will broaden its focus to situate each site in its regional context.

We are seeking sites that are helping to rewrite our understanding of the past and how social change occurred across different regions during different time periods.
“This is a terrific opportunity for a excavation and its personnel to gain exposure and reach a wider audience”, Nigel Hetherington CEO & founder of Past Preservers pointed out.

Past Preservers, founded by Nigel J. Hetherington in 2005, taps into its extensive network of archaeologists, historians, Egyptologists, engineers, geologists, and other specialists to provide historical and archaeological consultancy and professional support to the media industry. With offices in Cairo and London and representatives throughout the Middle East, North America, and Europe, Past Preservers has a strong hold in the international media scene, having completed assignments for the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, Al-Jazeera International, TLC, and the Living Channel.

For further information please contact:

Nigel Hetherington

nigel@pastpreservers.com

Exhibition of Art about Egypt’s 25th January Revolution

2011-04-07T14:00:00.000+02:00

Release Date: April 7, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Exhibition of Art about Egypt’s 25^th January Revolution

During his April 6^th meeting with a delegation of youth involved with Egypt’s 25^th of January Revolution, Minister of State for Antiquities Dr. Zahi Hawass decided to hold an art exhibition that tells the story of the struggles of Egypt’s Revolution.

The exhibition will first be shown in Cairo and then tour 14 European countries, stated Dr. Hawass. The exhibition will consist of a collection of art in various media created by Egyptian artists to reflect their views on Egypt’s Revolution, and it will also include a photo gallery showing scenes of Tahrir Square as well as the demonstrators.

Dr. Hawass ordered the establishment of a committee of representatives of the 25^th of January youth as well as officials from the Museum Sector of the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) to produce the exhibition.

Mohamed Abdel Fatah, Head of the Museum Sector at the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) stated that a collection of archaeological replicas will be included with the exhibition. Fatha added that these replicas are meant to reflect some themes of the Revolution, for example a replica statue of the Egyptian goddess of truth and justice Ma’at symbolizing the concept of justice, while peace and prosperity will be symbolized by the god Osiris, god of the afterlife.

Ahmed Kamil, Technical Director of the Museum Sector, said that photos of people who died during the Revolution as well as some of their personal belongings, such as their clothes and flags they held, will also be displayed with the exhibition.

Kamil also stated that a collection of books about antiquities will be provided for the exhibition, including those printed by the MSA, a selection from other archaeologists, and those by Dr. Hawass. In addition, a collection of brochures and newsletters concerning Egypt’s archaeological sites and tourist attractions will be on display in an attempt to promote tourism from within the country and outside. This section of the exhibition, said Kamil, will be financed in collaboration with the Red Sea governorate and four other travel agencies.

After the exhibition has completed its tour in Egypt and Europe, Hawass announced, it will be placed on permanent display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC), now under construction in the Al-Fustat area of Old Cairo. The purpose of the NMEC is to display the history of Egyptian civilization from prehistoric through modern times, and this exhibition will make it complete, Hawass stated, displaying the latest saga in Egypt’s modern history.

Encroachment on Archaeological Sites

2011-04-05T17:28:00.000+02:00

PRESS RELEASE

Release Date: April 5, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Encroachment on Archaeological Sites

A meeting was held today, April 5, 2011, at the Ministry of State for Antiquities Affairs office in Zamalek, to discuss encroachment on archaeological sites that occurred during the aftermath of the January revolution. The meeting headed by Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs and attended by a representative of the Supreme Council of the Military, was held to put into effect the procedures outlined by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Military. They discussed which sites have been affected, and plans in cooperation with military forces in order to remove these encroachments.

Affected areas include Cairo, Giza, Qualubiya, Helwan, Faiyum, Beni Suef, Minya, and 6^th of October City, said Dr. Sabry Abd el-Aziz, head of the Pharaonic Sector at the Ministry of State for Antiquities.

Make Money Writing Historical Tours for the iPhone!

2011-04-05T13:51:00.002+02:00

Past Preservers is on the look out for passionate individuals who can utilize Crimson Bamboo’s unique new iPhone platform, Rama, to make history come alive!

Uniting popular history with archival photographs, Rama not only adds a historical narrative to the walking tour, but shows snapshots of the tour route as it actually appeared. It’s the only app that captures the experience of being in Chicago after the Great Fire, on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, or in Shanghai’s French Concession in the roaring 20s.

If you would like to be involved with creating tours for Rama, send us an email about yourself and your tour idea to info@pastpreservers.com

Whether it’s a jaunt through your university’s past, or a recreation of the recent protests and political reform in Egypt, if you make the idea sound compelling, we’ll give you the tools to make it into a tour!

Past Preservers on ARTE & ZDF

2011-04-02T15:06:00.000+02:00

For those of you in Germany over the weekend don’t miss Egypt, a four part documentary series starting at 8.15pm on Saturday on ARTE & ZDF. Produced by Gruppe 5, Past Preservers provided specialist research for the production in Egypt.

This is what they say about the show:

“No civilization was more durable, created more artistic, inventive and impressive buildings than that of the ancient Egyptians. What was her secret to success? The series Egypt examines the reasons for the longevity of the Pharaohs - from the earliest beginnings around 3000 BC to the end of the New Kingdom. Lavishly staged scenes and spectacular computer animations bring the world of the ancient Egyptians back to life. Entire cities are repopulated using 3D animation. Exploring archaeological excavations and scientific expeditions from across Egypt, with a cast of scientists from around the world to answer the question: What was the glue that held the country on the Nile together for so long? What was the secret if this civilisation?”

More information @ http://www.gruppe5film.de

Country House Rescue

2011-03-28T18:27:00.000+02:00

Busy times ahead, another casting, this time, for the aristocratic among you!

Channel 4’s

Country House Rescue

We are looking for people who own historic or country houses to take part in a fourth series of ‘Country House Rescue’.

Ruth Watson, stately home owner, successful businesswoman and award winning hotelier has already helped turn around the fortunes of many magnificent country houses, through diversification, business guidance and straight-talking commonsense.

If you, or someone you know, were to take part, the house could be featured exclusively in a one hour episode on primetime Channel 4. The last series was watched by an average of 2.7 million viewers.

____________________________________________________________

‘Country House Rescue’ is an 8-part series which follows the process of diversification at eight historic houses, as the owners seek appropriate ways of using their homes to generate revenue and ensure the survival of the property into the future.

Each hour-long programme features one house over a six month period. The owners receive tailor-made advice and ideas from renowned businesswoman and trouble-shooter, Ruth Watson. Having successfully stewarded a number of historical houses and businesses in the past - including Hintlesham Hall in Suffolk - Ruth is keen to pass on her wealth of experience.

We are looking for eight country houses who would be interested in finding out more about this new series.

Perhaps you are looking into diversifying for the first time? Or perhaps you have an existing business which needs repointing and reviving? Ruth’s objective is to advise home owners on how to make their home as profitable as it can be.

Owners should be open to the idea of how their home can work as a business and be willing to explore ways to achieve that goal.

If you would like to find out more, please contact

casting@pastpreservers.com

Past Preservers teams up with Crimson Bamboo

2011-03-22T17:58:00.000+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Past Preservers teams up with Crimson Bamboo to develop historical tours for iPhone app

NEW YORK CITY and CAIRO—March 21, 2011—Past Preservers and Crimson Bamboo LLC announced today that they would be teaming up to develop tours for Rama, Crimson Bamboo’s flagship augmented reality app for iPhone.

Named by BBC Travel in 2010 as one of the ten best new travel apps, Rama is a mobile phone platform that takes users on historical walking tours which not only tell the story behind the stops on the tour, but also show archival images of how those locations once appeared. Past Preservers, a historical and archaeological consultancy that has previously provided support for programming for such major television networks as the History Channel and Al-Jazeera International, will tap into its considerable media connections and expertise to produce innovative new tours on locations around the world, which will be sold directly to users on Rama.

“We are very excited to work with Past Preservers on offering new tours for Rama,” Michael Carroll, co-founder of Crimson Bamboo, stated. “We founded our company with the mission of delivering top-quality content to users while also providing authors with new tools for telling—and showing—history’s greatest stories. Past Preservers has one of the largest networks of historical and new media experts in the world and we are sure that the tours we produce with them will continue to expand Rama’s reputation for providing users with the opportunity to understand and experience history like never before.”

Both companies also stressed that, in addition to providing a new form of immersive content for users, the collaboration would also focus on serving the authors of the tours.

“Past Preservers has always been dedicated, first and foremost, to helping academics and professionals to earn money doing the things that they are most passionate about,” said Past Preservers’ president, Nigel Hetherington. “Rama not only offers the perfect opportunity to reach new audiences using one of the most cutting-edge platforms available, but also offers our clients a new opportunity to write first-class historical content that they can sell directly to customers. This is a truly innovative publishing model that we are convinced will really serve our clients’ interests.”

Historical walking tours jointly produced by the two companies will be available for purchase within the Rama app, and are generally priced between $0.99 and $2.99. Rama can be downloaded on iTunes at http://bit.ly/hM2ZGe

Crimson Bamboo is a New York City-based Limited Liability Company founded in March 2010, with the mission of creating new convergences between people, data, and the world.

Past Preservers, founded by Nigel J. Hetherington in 2005, taps into its extensive network of archaeologists, historians, Egyptologists, engineers, geologists, and other specialists to provide historical and archaeological consultancy and professional support to the media industry. With offices in Cairo and London and representatives throughout the Middle East, North America, and Europe, Past Preservers has a strong hold in the international media scene, having completed assignments for the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, Al-Jazeera International, TLC, and Living Channel.

CONTACT:

Lydia

Wittgenstein

Crimson Bamboo LLC

lwittgenstein@crimsonbamboo.com

http://www.crimsonbamboo.com

Nigel Hetherington

Past Preservers

nigel@pastpreservers,com

http://www.pastpreservers.com

Open Letter to His Excellency, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf of Egypt

2011-03-09T15:59:00.000+02:00

Your Excellency,

We hope that your tenure in office continues smoothly and would like to ask a favour of you that affects not only us, but all Egyptians and indeed people worldwide. Would you please make it a top priority of your government to return police to archaeological sites so as to put an end to the illegal excavations, the looting of storehouses and tombs, and illegal construction on governmental archaeological land. The desecration of archaeological sites and monuments is not only a huge loss for the people of Egypt on a national, economic, and human level, but is also a loss to all of humanity and to science.

Below are just a few signatures of scholars and individuals who support this request. We very much hope that you will take immediate steps to save Egypt’s heritage for posterity.

Sincerely,

Concerned Egyptologists/Archaeologists

On the behalf of all archaeologists and Egyptologists

Dr.Tarek El Awadi Director of the Egyptian Museum

The Archaeology Channel Conference on Cultural Heritage Film

2011-02-28T17:59:00.000+02:00

To Scholars and Film Makers :

Archaeological Legacy Institute is announcing a “Call for Papers” for The Archaeology Channel Conference on Cultural Heritage Film to be held May 25-27 in Eugene, Oregon, USA, in conjunction with our 8th annual instalment of The Archaeology Channel International film and Video Festival (May 24-28). The Conference will be held in the Mexico Room at the Baker Downtown Center. This is an international event, with films and film-makers coming from around the globe. Conference presenters will receive tickets to all film screenings.

Papers on applications of film (academic, cultural, practical, educational) will be considered for conference presentation. There will also be an open discussion of Festival films. The goals of this conference are three-fold: (1) to promote the creation, distribution and use of cultural heritage film as an influence for broad cultural awareness and understanding; (2) to bring together educators, film-makers, archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, journalists, historic preservationists, environmentalists, geographers, and others interested in cultural heritage and its connections to the natural environment; and (3) to encourage the exchange of new ideas and approaches to employ film for the common good of all humanity.

The official call for papers is posted (or soon will be) in our Festival area at http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/Conference11.html.
TAC Festival information may be found now at http://www.archaeologychannel.org/content/TACfestival.shtml,
where hotel information is posted. The call for papers and registration form can also be viewed below and include information on abstract submission, presentation length, paper topics, and opportunities to propose and coordinate symposia. We encourage you to participate (for no fee) even if you don’t present a paper.
Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at this year’s event. Please share this information as widely as possible.

Richard M. Pettigrew, Ph.D., RPA
President and Executive Director
Archaeological Legacy Institute
www.archaeologychannel.org

ON LOOK FILMS AND NIGEL J. HETHERINGTON OF PAST PRESERVERS JOIN FORCES

2011-02-17T20:41:00.001+02:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2011

Contact: Anna Kipervaser, Writer, Producer (847) 571-6943

anna@onlookfilms.com

ON LOOK FILMS AND NIGEL J. HETHERINGTON OF PAST PRESERVERS JOIN FORCES

On Look Films announces the addition of renowned archaeologist and TV producer Nigel J. Hetherington, founder of media and heritage consultancy company Past Preservers, as advisor to the documentary film project Voices and Faces of the Adhan: Cairo. Nigel has been consulting with the producers of On Look Films since the project’s infancy, and now in his official role, Nigel will bring his vast expertise in Egyptian cultural history and the contemporary local Cairo media world to influence the realization of the film.

ABOUT NIGEL J. HETHERINGTON

Nigel J. Hetherington is an archaeologist and TV producer as well as a specialist in heritage conservation. He earned a BA in Egyptian Archaeology and an MA in Cultural Heritage Studies from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. Nigel has lectured at various institutions in

Egypt

and elsewhere on the need for the urgent protection of archaeological sites, and strives to facilitate and support the happy marriage of rigorous and scientific archaeology to innovative and entertaining media projects.

ABOUT PAST PRESERVERS

Past Preservers was founded by archaeologist and media consultant Nigel J. Hetherington to provide historical and archaeological consultancy and professional support to the media industry, and draws on a global network of expertise to deliver innovative and effective heritage management and technology services to non-profit, business, and government clients. With offices in Cairo and London and representatives throughout the Middle East, North America, and Europe, Past Preservers has a strong hold in the international media scene. Previous assignments include work for the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, Al-Jazeera International, TLC, and Living Channel. Network of specialists include Archaeologists, Historians, Egyptologists, Heritage Consultants, Engineers, Geologists, and Anthropologists. For further information, visit www.pastpreservers.com.

ABOUT ON LOOK FILMS

Voices and Faces of the Adhan: Cairo is produced by Ukranian-born artist Anna Kipervaser and directed by award-winning Brazilian-born filmmaker Miguel Silveira, and includes a diverse international team of filmmakers and scholars.

The project encompasses a documentary film, audio archive, sound installation and interactive media library. Voices and Faces of the Adhan: Cairo will be the most accurate record of the endangered 1,400 year-old tradition of the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) in Cairo before it is erased forever. The team is currently seeking funding to complete production of the documentary film.

Voices and Faces of the Adhan: Cairo is fiscally sponsored by The Hartley Film Foundation, a 501(c)3, with additional support from National Geographic’s All Roads Film Project and the Lucius & Eva Eastman Fund. All donations are tax deductible. For further information and to watch the trailer and behind the scenes footage for this project, please visit www.onlookfilms.com

New Casting Alert

2011-02-14T00:03:00.000+02:00

WWII Show

I have been asked to find someone who could present a special programme about WWII for Channel 4. He/she would not need to be an expert in WWII military history as we will have plenty of on screen expertise – they are first and foremost the presenter, but a sound knowledge of the period would be an advantage. We are looking for someone with energy, enthusiasm, a natural curiosity, someone who is engaging and warm; it will be a bit Time Team- esque in feel so the lecture delivering presenter isn’t the right sort for this. If I have to give a benchmark, I think someone who has some of the attributes of Dan Snow is what we’re looking for. Filming would take place over a couple of weeks in the summer.

Please email casting@pastpreservers.com

Casting for Time Team

2011-01-18T21:44:00.001+02:00

We have received the following casting call from Time Team:-

“Time Team are currently in production for their 19^th series and are looking to make some changes to the on screen team.

We are looking for a FEMALE co- host, someone who ideally has experience in presenting archaeology, history or anthropology programming. It would also be great to hear about presenters with a proven passion for these subjects, an academic background or otherwise. This person does not have to be overly experienced or knowledgeable as we have plenty of expertise within the existing on and off- screen team, however intelligence, natural curiosity and a passion for Archaeology is a must! Tony Robinson will continue to be the Series Presenter, introduce the programmes and voice them.

The shoot schedule runs from 4 April to 12 August, with three filming days every other week, tending to fall Tuesday – Thursday with travel days either side. The digs and their locations are still to be confirmed.

We are also looking for someone who has expertise in Computational Archaeology to be an occasional contributor (specific programmes only), explaining all computer output to the presenters and on- screen team (ie. they would not be required to present).

We are looking for a Landscape Archaeologist to be an occasional contributor (for specific programmes only). Again this would be to work with the presenters and the rest of the on- screen team (ie. they would not be required to present).

We are looking for an Archaeologist who would essentially be a digger, spending all three days of every programme in a trench. At least 24 months of full time digging experience would be required.

For these three non- presenter roles we are happy to consider people with or without broadcast experience. What is important is high energy, good rapport with the team and of course to be comfortable on camera”

If you are interested in any of these positions and you are not currently on our talent database, please complete the instructions on our website @ http://www.pastpreservers.com/ourpeople.html

If you are currently on our database please email us @ casting@pastpreservers.com

and let us know what positions you are interested in.

Please note these positions are UK based and you need to be available for the entire shooting period.

Best wishes

The Past Preservers Team

Happy New Year from the Past Preservers Team

2011-01-11T15:40:00.000+02:00

Past Preservers

Hear the Voice of Egypt’s Youth

Happy Holidays!

Walk Historic Southend with Past Preservers!

25TV Goes to the Polls

Walk Argentina's history in Buenos Aires!

Call for Authors

Follow Van Gogh’s footsteps in London!

Discover the Dome of the Rock!

Never Forget

Eid Adha Mubarak--kull 'am wa-antum bi-khayr!

Past Preservers People is Seeking Two Hosts for a Major US TV Series

Taking leave, An International Competition “Egyptian's Dream City"”

The Plague Lives Again with Past Preservers!

Past Preservers Walks through the Wild Side of Winchester

Past Preservers People Needs Male Host Investigators for History Channel Series

See the Darker Side of Ellis Island with Past Preservers!

Hosni Mubarak trial: 'Every Egyptian will tune in' Nigel Hetherington CEO & Founder of Past Preservers

Nigel Hetherington, Cairo

Past Preservers experiences life as it was in Pompeii

Ramadan Kareem from the Past Preservers Team

Detroit is shown at its best with Past Preservers

Objects from Tutankhamun's tomb returned to Egypt!

Past Preservers delves into Cambodia’s hidden temples

Past Preservers explores an old face of the Grand Tetons

Great News! Tourists Return to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Subject: Egyptian Museum Tourism

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities, announced high visitor levels to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo today. Dr. Hawass made it clear that visitor numbers have been increasing day by day in comparison to previous months.

Seized Artifacts from Qantara Magazine

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Seized Artifacts from Qantara Magazine

A committee, formed by the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA), has confirmed that the artifacts seized this week are those stolen from the museum magazine of eastern Qantara during the lawlessness on 28th January 2011.

Lady Liberty shares her secrets with Past Preservers!

Jobs in Egypt

Past Preservers takes on the evil Illuminati!

Past Preservers is Looking for Passionate Writers to make History come Alive

Latest Archaeological Discovery from San el-Hagar

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Latest Archaeological Discovery from San el-Hagar

French archaeologists in San El-Hagar have discovered hundreds of colored and inscribed limestone blocks, which they believe were used to build the sacred lake walls of a temple dedicated to the goddess Mut.

Past Preservers’ first tour for iPhone now available to download

Treatment of Egyptians injured by the events of the Revolution

Enhancing the Value of the Saqqara Archaeological Site

Arab Republic of Egypt

Ministry of State for Antiquities

The Ministry of State for Antiquities will open the New Kingdom Cemetery at South Saqqara Tomorrow

PAST PRESERVERS & 25TV

Dr Zahi Hawass, The Minister of State for Antiquities is recruiting!

Ministry of State for Antiquities

First artifact to be returned to Egypt since the Revolution

Ministry of State for Antiquities

Release Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: First artifact to be returned to Egypt since the Revolution

A limestone stele of the Old Kingdom period (c. 2649-2134 BC), depicting a hunting scene from the daily life of its owner, is to be returned to Egypt by the Museum of Basel, Switzerland. The stele is 51 cm high and dates to the 5th Dynasty (c. 2465-2323 BC).

Past Preservers Signs the Wood Brothers

Hawass Response to Clothing Line Misunderstanding

Release Date: Monday, April 18, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Hawass Response to Clothing Line Misunderstanding

The Minister of State for Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass, announced that the news published in the media concerning the use of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, to promote an American clothing line in his name is unfounded.

Past Preservers Seeks Active Archaeological Excavations for New Television Series

Exhibition of Art about Egypt’s 25th January Revolution

Release Date: April 7, 2011

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Exhibition of Art about Egypt’s 25th January Revolution

Encroachment on Archaeological Sites

From: Office of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Minister of State for Antiquities

Subject: Encroachment on Archaeological Sites

Make Money Writing Historical Tours for the iPhone!

Past Preservers on ARTE & ZDF

Country House Rescue

Past Preservers teams up with Crimson Bamboo

Open Letter to His Excellency, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf of Egypt

The Archaeology Channel Conference on Cultural Heritage Film

ON LOOK FILMS AND NIGEL J. HETHERINGTON OF PAST PRESERVERS JOIN FORCES

New Casting Alert

Casting for Time Team

Happy New Year from the Past Preservers Team

A committee, formed by the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA), has confirmed that the artifacts seized this week are those stolen from the museum magazine of eastern Qantara during the lawlessness on 28^th January 2011.

Subject: Exhibition of Art about Egypt’s 25^th January Revolution