CURRICULUM VITAE
Donald P. Ryan
Donald P. Ryan
Faculty Fellow in the Humanities,
College of Liberal Studies
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington 98447 USA
E-Mail: ryandp@plu.edu
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
* Directed excavations, conservation activities, and research in Egypt’s ancient New Kingdom cemetery, the Valley of the Kings.
- Excavated and documented eleven undecorated tombs, each with noteworthy results.
- Rediscovered the lost tomb KV 60 in which was found a mummy since identified as the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut.
* Served as the full-time research collaborator of the Norwegian explorer, archaeologist, and environmentalist, Thor Heyerdahl, during the last seven years of his life.
* Author of more than a dozen books (with translations in several languages) including an archaeological memoir (Beneath the Sands of Egypt), a travel guide to pharaonic Egypt (Ancient Egypt on Five Deben a Day) and two books about daily life in ancient Egypt (24 Hours in Ancient Egypt and A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt).
* Author of dozens of popular and scientific articles.
* Co-author (with David Hansen) of a British Museum Occasional Paper.
* Co-director (with Thor Heyerdahl) of excavations at the Piramides de Güímar, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
* Conducted field work with Hawaiian petroglyphs.
* Presenter of scholarly papers at dozens of US and international conferences.
* Presenter of numerous invited guest popular lectures.
* Work has been featured in, or I have served as a consultant for, television programs produced by BBC, Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic and several others.
* College/University instructor for 30+ years including courses in history, archaeology, Egyptology, anthropology, writing, expedition training, and mountaineering.
* Awards include Pacific Lutheran University Outstanding Alumnus (2010) and Vancouver Award (Explorers Club Northwest Chapter – 2011)
* Fellow, The Explorers Club; Fellow, Royal Geographical Society.
* Research Associate, Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo, Norway.
* Former professional mountain guide/mountaineering instructor.
EDUCATION:
1988 Doctor of Philosophy, Archaeology, Union Graduate School, The Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dissertation: "The archaeological excavations of David George Hogarth at Asyut, Egypt 1906/07."
Topic Supervisors: Dr. Mark Papworth, Dr. David Lorton.
1982 Master of Arts, Anthropology (Archaeology) , University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
1979 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science (International Relations), Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.
1975 Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad, California.
AREAS OF INTEREST INCLUDE:
Archaeology of Egypt, the Near East and the Bible, History of Exploration and Early Seafaring,
History of Archaeology, History of Languages and Scripts,
Archaeology of Polynesia, Diffusion Theory, Experimental Archaeology.
PROJECTS AND EXPEDITIONS:
2005-present Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project [Director]
2004 Digital Epigraphy Project, Ka’upulehu, Hawaii [Director]
1997-2000 Excavations, Pyramides de Güimar, Tenerife, Canary Islands [Field Director]
1995-2002 Research grant to work with Thor Heyerdahl, Kon-Tiki Museum, Norway.
1995-96 Archaeological reconnaissance, Morocco.
1993 Valley of the Kings Preservation Project [Director]
1989-91 Pacific Lutheran University (P.L.U.) Valley of the Kings Project* [Director]
1988 Kom el-Hisn Project, Egypt (University of Washington.)
1987 Dissertation Research, British Museum, London*
1986 Egyptian Botanical Collection, Egypt
1986 Excavations at Ashkelon, Israel (Harvard U.)
1985 Excavations at Ashkelon, Israel (U. of Chicago)
1984 British Museum Egyptian Cordage Study, London
1984 Fayyum Archaeological Project, Egypt (U. of WA.)
1983-1984 Egyptian Archaeological Cordage Study, Egypt
1983 Kaupulehu Petroglyph Project, Hawaii
1983 Archaeological Project Development, Egypt
1982 El-Hibeh Cordage Study
1981 Fayyum Archaeological Project, Egypt (U. of WA.)
PUBLICATIONS:
In Press (2023) "Hermann Melville visits the Pyramids." Festchrift in Honor of John H. Taylor
2022 Book: A Year in the Life in the Life of Ancient Egypt.
London: Michael O'Mara (Also published in French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Serbian and as an audio book in English)
2022 "Howard Carter Before and After Tutankhamun." KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 33(1):45-54.
2021 "Egyptomania & Magical Mysteries: Ancient Egyptian Influences during the Golden Age of Stage Magic."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 31(4):57-65.
2019 "KV 60: A retrospective." KMT: A Modern Journal of Egyptology 30(4):61-66.
2019 "The Valley of the Kings revisited." Current World Archaeology 94:16-21.
2018 "Monkey Business in the Valley of the Kings: Three Unusual Tombs Revisited."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Egyptology 29(2):42-49
2018 "Preparing to Die (in Ancient Egypt)." Dig (a children's archaeology magazine) Sept. issue.
2018 "Visita el Antiguo Egipto: Entrevista a Donald P. Ryan." (with Gustavo Puerta). La Leche! Primavera 2018: 17-18.
2018 Book: 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt. London: Michael O'Mara.
2017 Two Articles in The Sea in World History. "Thor Heyerdahl" and "Queen Mary II." Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
2016 Book: Ancient Egypt in Verse: An Anthology of Nineteenth-Century Poetry.
Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.
2016 Book: Ancient Egypt: The Basics. London: Routledge.
2016 "The Poetic World of Giovanni Battista Belzoni."
Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities 42:47-67.
2016 "The very brief Theban excavation of H.S.Whitaker."
In, J. van Dijk (ed.), Another Mouthful of Dust: Egyptological Studies in Honour of Geoffrey Thorndike Martin. Leuven: Peeters.
2016 Book: O Antigo Egipto Por Cinco Deben Ao Dia. Bizancio, Lisboa.
2015 “KV 60: Ein rätselhaftes Grab in Tal der Könige."
In, Michael Höveler-Müller, ed., Das Hatschepsut-Puzzle. Nünnerich-Asmus: Mainz.
2014 Contributor of seven chapters to "Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki in New Light" In, Kon-Tiki Museum Occasional Papers 14.
2013 "Beginner's Guide to Ancient Egypt." KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt
2013 Book: El Antiguo Egipto Por Cinco Deben Al Día. Madrid: Akal.
2012 New introduction to the book, Kon-Tiki , by Thor Heyerdahl.
Published in Norwegian by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag (Oslo)
2012 Three articles in The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, ("Meretseger", "Ozymandias", "Valley of the Kings").
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell.
2012 Book: Okori Egyiptom Napi Öt Debenböl. Budapest: Scolar.
2011 Book: Im Band der Pharaonen. Stuttgart: Theiss.
2010 Book: Ancient Egypt on Five Deben a Day. New York /London: Thames & Hudson,
2010 Book: Egypt 1250 B.C.: A Traveler's Guide. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press.
2010 The Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project: Work conducted during the 2007 Field Season."
Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 84:383-388.
2010 Book: Beneath the Sands of Egypt.
New York: HarperCollins.
2010 "Five Field Seasons in the Royal Necropolis: The Second Phase of the Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Egyptology: 21(4).
2010 Book: Misterele Bibliei. Bucharet: Curtea Veche
2010 "Remembrance: T.G.H. James." (with Nicholas Reeves)
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 21(1)62-64.
2009 "'Aikupika Kahiko A Me Ka 'Olelo Hawai'i: Ancient Egypt and the Hawaiian Language."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 20(1):74-82.
2007 Book: "A shattered visage lies...": Nineteenth Century Poetry Inspired by Ancient Egypt. Bolton: Rutherford Press.
2007 Book: Civilisations Disparues. Paris: Marabout
2007 "The Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project: Work conducted during the 2005 Field Season."
Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 81:345-356-361.
2007 "The Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project: Work conducted during the 2006 Field Season."
Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Égypte 81:357-361.
2007 "Ancient Egypt on Stage: A brief introduction to two splendid operas."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 18(3):75-85.
2007 "Cleopatra Had a Jazz Band: Egypt in Early 20th century sheet music."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 18(1):72-80. :
2006 "Ibsen and Egypt. (with Claudia Berguson)
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 17
2005 "The Pharaoh and the Poet."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 16(4):76-83.
2005 "Cone Conundrum."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 15(4):59-66.
2004 "Exploring the Valley of the Kings." In, Secrets of Ancient Egypt.
Long Island: Hatherleigh Press. pp.117-125.
2004 "The Great Temple revealed: Giovanni Battista Belzoni at Abu Simbel."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 15(2):68-82.
2004 Book: Everything Family Guide to Hawaii. Avon: Adams Media.
2003 "Mapping the Poike Ditch." (with R. Reanier).
In, Easter Island: Scientific Exploration into the World's Environmental Problems in Microcosm.
ed. by J. Loret and J. Tanacredi. Kluwer Academic. pp. 207-221.
2003 Book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to The World of the Bible.
New York: Alpha Books.
2002 Book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ancient Egypt.
New York: Alpha Books.
2002 Three articles about Around the World with Capt. James Cook: "Sailing the Seas", "More than Making
Maps", "Captain Cook's Final Voyage".
Calliope (children's history magazine) 12(9): 16-19, 33-35, 38-40.
2001 "A Beginner's Guide to Egyptology: 2001."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 12(2):52-59.
2001 "Basketry, matting and cordage."
In, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt 1:164-166.
2001 "Historical perspectives of prehistoric seafaring in the Pacific."
No Barriers Seminar Papers, Kon-Tiki Museum, Vol. 3: 27-30.
2000 Book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Biblical Mysteries.
New York: Macmillan.
2000 "Pottery from the Valley of the Kings: Tombs KV 21, 27, 28, 44, 45, and 60."
(with Barbara and David Aston) Cahiers de la Ceramique Égyptienne 6:11-26.
2000 Three articles about Tomb Builders: "The Valley of the Kings", "A Village in time.", "The Tomb Robbers
of Ancient Egypt: Desecrators of the Dead." Calliope 11(1): 27-29, 36-37.
1999 Book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Lost Civilizations.
New York: Macmillan.
1998 "American Indians in the Pacific: A 50 year retrospective of the Kon-Tiki Expedition."
In, Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Easter Island and East Polynesia. ed. by C. Stevenson et al. Pp.379-385.
1997 "Thor Heyerdahl et l'Expedition Kon-Tiki: Mythe et Realite."
Bulletin de la Société des Etudes Océaniennes 275:22-35.
1997 "Thor Heyerdahl: the life and legacy of an explorer, scholar and world citizen."
The Explorers Journal 75(1):14-16..
1997 Article on "Ancient Egyptian Basketry."
Macmillan Encyclopedia of Art (now Grove Encyclopedia of Art),
1996 "David George Hogarth: A somewhat reluctant Egyptologist."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 7(2):77-81.
1995 "Further observations concerning the Valley of the Kings."
In, Valley of the Sun Kings: New Explorations in the Tombs of the Pharaohs.
ed. by R. Wilkinson, U. of Arizona Press. pp.157-163.
1995 "Tentative tomb protection priorities, Valley of the Kings, Egypt." (with John Rutherford)
In, Valley of the Sun Kings: new explorations in the tombs of the Pharaohs. pp.134-156.
ed. by R. Wilkinson, U. of Arizona Press.
1995 "Dental remains from the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt." (with D. Swindler and B. Rothschild)
In, Aspects of Dental Biology:Paleontology, Anthropology and Evolution.
ed. by J. Moggo-Cecchi. International Institute for the Study of Man, Florence.
1995 "David George Hogarth at Asyut, Egypt: 1906-1907: the history of a "lost" excavation."
Bulletin of the History of Archaeology 5(2):3-16.
1994 "Filming The Face of Tutankamun."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 5(3):77-84.
1994 "Exploring the Valley of the Kings."
Calliope (Sept./Oct.):36-40.
1994 "Exploring the Valley of the Kings."
Archaeology 47(1):52-59.
1993 "Old rope: who cares about the ancient Egyptian technology?"
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 4(2):72-80.
1992 "Some observations concerning uninscribed tombs in the Valley of the Kings."
In, After Tutankhamun. ed. by C.N. Reeves. Kegan Paul. pp.21-27.
1992 Book Review of: T.G.H. James, Howard Carter: The Path to Tutankhamun.
Archaeology (Nov./Dec.):76-81.
1992 "The Valley Again."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 3(1):44-47, 69.
1991 “Egyptian Antiquities in South Texas. Part 1: Funerary Cones” (with C. Van Siclen)
Varia Aegyptiaca 7 :41-52.
1991 "Return to Wadi Biban el Moluk: The Second Field Season of the Valley of the Kings Project."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 2(1):26-31.
1990 "A Beginner's Guide to Egyptology."
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 1(4):30-34.
1990 "Who is buried in KV 60?"
KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt 1(1):34-39, 58-59, 63.
1989 "The Pacific Lutheran University Valley of the Kings Project: A Synopsis of the First (1989) Season."
Newsletter of the American Research Center in Egypt. 146:8-10.
1989 "Belzoni's rope from the tomb of Sethos I."
Studien zur Altaegyptische Kultur, Beihefte 2:137-142.
1988 "Papyrus."
Biblical Archaeologist 51 (Sept.):132-140.
1988 Book Review of: R. Hall (1986), "Egyptian textiles." Varia Aegyptiaca 4:261.
1988 "The archaeological analysis of inscribed Egyptian funerary cones."
Varia Aegyptiaca 4(2):165-170.
1987 Monograph: "A study of Ancient Egyptian cordage from the British Museum."
(with David H. Hansen) Occasional Papers of the British Museum 62.
1987 Book Review of: S. Curto and L. Donatelli (1985), "Bernardino Drovetti Epistolario."
Varia Aegyptiaca 3(1):88-89.
1987 "Inscribed Egyptian funerary cones in-situ: An early observation by Henry Salt." (with C.N. Reeves)
Varia Aegyptiaca 3(1):47-49.
1987 Book Review of: Y. Gourlay (1981), "Les sparteries de Deir el-Medineh."
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt 22:215-216.
1986 "Giovanni Battista Belzoni."
Biblical Archaeologist 49(3):133-138.
1986 Book Review of: H.M. Stewart (1986), "Mummy cases and inscribed funerary cones in the Petrie collection."
Varia Aegyptiaca 2(3):225-228.
1985 "The misidentification of ancient Egyptian plant fibers."
Varia Aegyptiaca 1(3):143-149.
PAPERS:
Numerous, including the following venues:
Paths Across the Pacific Conference VII, VIII and IX, Sitka, Alaska.
Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, (many locations)
Experiment and Experience: Ancient Egypt In The Present, University of Swansea, U.K.
The Valley of the Kings Since Howard Carter, Museum of Mummification, Luxor, Egypt.
Early Man and the Ocean Conference, Oslo, Norway.
7th International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific, Visby, Sweden.
Pacific 2000: International Congress of Easter Island and South Pacific Studies, Hawai'i
4th International Congress on Easter Island, Albuquerque.
Seventh International Congress of Egyptology, Cambridge.
Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, Toronto
International Conference on the Valley of the Kings, Tucson.
Sixth International Congress of Egyptology, Turin.
International Conference on the Valley of the Kings, Highclere Castle, U.K.
4th International Congress of Egyptology, Munich, Germany.
ASSOCIATIONS:
Fellow, former regional chairman, The Explorers Club, New York.
Fellow, Royal Geographical Society, London.
Research Associate, The Kon-Tiki Museum, Oslo.
Professional Member, American Mountain Guides Association
Contributing Editor, KMT: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt..
Member, American Research Center in Egypt..
Book Review Editor: Pre-Columbiana: A Journal of Long-Distance Contacts
Vice-President of the Scientific Committee, Foundation for Exploration and Research on Cultural Origins.
COURSES TAUGHT:
Pacific Lutheran University = PLU; Highline Community College = HCC; Tacoma Community College = TCC
Introduction to Egyptology. [PLU]
Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. [PLU]
Exploring Egypt from the Pharaohs to Cleopatra. (study-tour in Egypt and London) [PLU]
Introduction to Archaeology. [HCC, TCC]
Cultural Anthropology. [HCC]
Physical Anthropology. [TCC]
History of the Middle East. [HCC]
History of Western Civilization. [HCC]
World Geography. [HCC]
Viewing the Past (An overview of disciplines that deal with the past.) [PLU]
Outrageous Claims: Confronting the Unbelievable. (Critical thinking.) [PLU]
The Expedition Experience. (Expedition and field research planning and implementation.) [PLU]
Mountaineering. [PLU]
TELEVISION:
including:
National Geographic Channel, "Lost Treasures of Egypt" (Season 2). Featured archaeologist.
Discovery Channel, "Unearthed". (Season 2) Featured archaeologist.
Science Channel, "Unearthed: Tut's Buried Secrets." Featured archaeologist.
ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen), "Terra X: Thor Heyerdahl." Interviewee.
Discovery Channel, "Great Scandals of Ancient Egypt." Interviewee.
Nordisk Film, NRK: "På jakt etter paradiset." Advisor.
Discovery Channel: "Secrets of Egypt’s Lost Queen." Featured Archaeologist.
BBC-TV/A&E Series: "The Face of Tutankhamun."
Archaeological and Mountaineering Consultant, Featured Archaeologist, Episode: "The Great Adventure."
Learning Channel Series: "Archaeology". Consultant and Featured Archaeologist,
Episode: “Forgotten Mummies."