Salima Ikram

Salima Ikram is a Pakistani professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. She works as an archaeologist and anthropologist who participates in numerous Egyptian archaeological projects. Her expertise includes funerary archaeology, bioarchaeology, and archaeozoology.

Early life and education

Ikram was born in Lahore, Pakistan, on 17 May 1965. She first developed an interest in archaeology when she was eight years old. This passion grew after she received copies of Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ancient Egypt by Time Life Books Editors. A trip to Egypt at age nine further heightened her fascination with the field.

She pursued higher education at Bryn Mawr College. There, she earned a BA degree in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology and History. Ikram later moved to the University of Cambridge to continue her academic training. She earned both an M.Phil. and a PhD in Egyptology and Museum Studies. Her doctoral thesis focused on meat production in Ancient Egypt.

Career

Ikram resides in Cairo where she serves as a Distinguished Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo. In 2017, she held a position as a visiting professor at Yale University for the fall term. During her time at Yale, she taught specific courses such as Death and Burial and Food and Drink in Ancient Egypt. She remains the only female Pakistani archaeologist currently working in Egypt.

Her research involves significant leadership roles in various archaeological missions. She serves as the co-director of the Animal Mummy Project at the Egyptian Museum. Since 2001, she has directed the North Kharga Oasis Survey alongside Corinna Rossi. Ikram also directed the North Kharga Oasis Darb Ain Amur Survey and the Amenmesse Mission of KV10 and KV63 in the Valley of the Kings.

She collaborates with other specialists on diverse projects. Ikram worked with André Veldmeijer on the Ancient Egypt Leatherwork Project. She also co-directed the Predynastic Gallery Project. Her research interests span several disciplines, including rock art and experimental archaeology. She also studies cultural heritage and museology.

Ikram maintains a prominent presence in the media. She contributes articles to National Geographic and Egypt Today. She has appeared in over 30 documentaries and television specials. Her credits include appearances on the BBC, Discovery Channel, and the History Channel. The Netflix series Tomb of Saqqara, which featured her, reached #5 on the platform's most watched shows during 2021. She also served as an advisor for the Universal Pictures film The Mummy and acted in the 2020 film Luxor.

She is a prolific author who has written many books for both academic and young audiences. Her academic publications include Choice Cuts: Meat Production in Ancient Egypt and Egyptian Bioarchaeology: Humans, Animals, and the Environment. For younger readers, she wrote titles such as Pharaohs and In Ancient Egypt: Mummies and Tombs. She also leads archaeological tours for Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural trips.

Awards and recognition

Ikram has received several prestigious honors throughout her career. The American University in Cairo presented her with the Excellence in Research Award in 2006. In 2013, she received the Annual Award in Investigation from the Spanish Geographical Society. She was elected as an international honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2017.