Stone, Sand, and Silence: a decade among the tombs of Luxor

Brenan Dew
South Australian Museum

Thursday 6th August 2026 at 7.00 pm
Mawson Lecture Theatre, 
Department of Earth Sciences, Adelaide University

Abstract: For nearly a decade, Brenan Dew worked among the limestone hills of the Theban Necropolis on Luxor’s West Bank, excavating and recording the tomb of Amenmose (TT149) with the Macquarie Theban Tombs Project. This talk reflects on life and discovery in the Theban Necropolis, where geology, geography, history, and human experience converge. In this talk, Brenan shares a personal account of working in one of the world’s most extraordinary landscapes, where every layer of earth holds echoes of the past.  

Bio: Brenan Dew is a museum professional and science communicator with extensive experience across cultural institutions including the South Australian Museum, the Australian Space Discovery Centre, and Powerhouse Museum. His work spans visitor experience, public programs, and strategic engagement—bringing science, culture, and community together through accessible storytelling. With undergraduate degrees both in History and Science (majoring in Egyptology and Astrophysics), he remains deeply passionate about astronomy, dark-sky advocacy, and fostering public curiosity about our place in the universe.
 
University policy is to close doors at 7.00 pm, so arrive punctually! The door may be monitored for latecomers until the main lecture starts (around 7.10 to 7.15 pm). 
Refreshments will be served in the tea room following the meeting.
The meeting will be zoomed. The link will be distributed to members by email a day or two before the meeting,



 

TUTORIAL: TBA

We meet in the Mawson Lecture Theatre and start at 6:40. For those who would like to attend the tutorial, try to arrive before 6:40 and sit more towards the left-hand side of the theatre (as viewed from an audience perspective). 

Peter Briggs