Donald B. Redford has been a Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Pennsylvania State University since 1998. For 29 years he was a Full Professor at the University of Toronto. He studied at the University of Toronto where he received a Bachelors Degree, a Masters Degree, and a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies. Dr. Redford also acted as a Visiting Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the Ben Gurion University of the Negeb. Donald Redford is married to Susan Redford, a Ph.D. candidate at Penn. State University, she is also an Egyptologist.
Currently Donald Redford was granted access to dig at four sites at the Akhenaten Temple in East Karnak, which is part of the ancient city of Thebes, Tel Kedwa in North Sinai, and Luxor, located in the Valley of the Nobles. The ancient city of Mendes boasts one of the largest and longest inhabitance. Mendes was a thriving city, which had two harbors and an elaborate trade network with countries. At Akhenaten Temple, Redford and his team excavated the half-mile long by 212 meters temple, which housed giant statues of King Akhenaten. At the North Sinai site, Redford says the civilization lasted only a short while, perhaps a hundred years. In Luxor, Donald and his wife are unearthing Akhenaten’s butler. Redford has 40 years of experience in Egyptology.
“When I start teaching a course on ancient Egypt, I always tell my students, by the end of the semester, someone will have discovered something that will change our minds”- Donald B. Redford
Archaeological Experience:
1964-1965, 1967-In Jerusalem Redford was site supervisor for excavations under the British School of Archaeology
1968-Located in Lower Egypt, Redford was Epigrapher at the excavations of Buto under Egypt Exploration Society
1970-1972-At the temple of Osiris, Karnal University of Toronto and SUNY Binghamton
1972-1976- Director of the Akhenaten Temple Project under University of Pennsylvania
1975-1991 Director of the East Karnak Excavations
1981- Director of the Jordan Toponym Survey
1991-present-Director of excavations at Mendes in Lower Egypt
1993-present-Director of excavations at Tel Kedwa in North Sinai
1992-present-Epigrapher at the Theban Tomb Survey
Publications include: History &Chronology of the Egyptian 18th Dynasty, Seven Studies, A Study of the Biblical Joseph Story, The Akhenaten Temple Project I, Initial Discoveries, Pharaonic King-lists, Annals and Day-books, Akhenaten, the Heretic King, The Akhenaten Temple Project II, Rwd-mnw & the Inscriptions, Egypt, Canaan, Israel in Ancient Times
References:
www.3.la.psu.edu/cams/redford.htm (August 29, 2002)
www.rps.psu.edu/0205/pharoahs.html (August 29, 2002)
www.personal.psu.edu/users/d/b/dbr3/thebanto.html (September 4, 2002)
Written by: Adam Erickson, 2002
Edited by Marcy L. Voelker, 2007