Lecture on Ancient Egyptian Artifacts with Matt Bell

Introduction

• Host: Danny
• Guest: Matt Bell, collector of ancient Egyptian artifacts
• Topic: Discussion on value, acquisition, and study of ancient vases

Main Points

Artifact Value and Acquisition

• Matt Bell started collecting artifacts in January 2023.
• Value has increased; some items tripled or quadrupled in value over a year and a half.
• Some artifacts are invaluable to Bell, such as the vase with gold handles.
• Collection includes nearly 30 ancient Egyptian vases purchased from the antiquities market.
• Acquired through auction houses and websites like liveauctioneers.com.
• Significant influence from Ben van Kerkwyk and Uncharted X for getting into collecting.
• Various auction houses mentioned: Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams.

Attributes and Precision of Vases

• Vases range in sizes, and some are extremely precise, some smaller than a shot glass.
• Mystery about why they were made so small and how the precision was achieved.
• Discussion about various material used, including hard stones like granite, diorite, basalt.

Modern Reproduction and Skeptics

• Debate on ancient tools vs. modern reproductions: skeptics argue they might be modern fakes.
• Contrary opinions from mainstream egyptologists and archeologists about the origins and creation.
• Matt Bell has privately scanned the vases using CT scanners and structured light scans.
• Precision measured down to thousandths of a millimeter.

Scanning and Measurement Techniques

• CT Scanning: Provides detailed images of both outside and inside walls.
• Structured Light Scan: Rotates on a flat surface, captures external dimensions.
• Examples: One vase is 128.8 mm in diameter on X and 128.4 mm on Y.
• Comparison of surface deviations indicating lathe use vs. chisels.

Theories and Speculations

• Mainstream theories: containers for perfumes, liquids, possibly decorative purposes.
• More fringe theories include batteries or items with significant alignment and balances.
• Some vases float in water to a specific level, indicating potential sophisticated utility.

Encounter with Debunkers

• Flint Dibble: labeled some vases as handmade without detailed examination.
• Skeptics mostly rely on the archaeological record without considering modern measurements.

Goals and Future Plans

• Continued effort to scan and measure his collection to identify patterns and precision levels.
• Desire to involve museums and encourage them to scan their collections for similar studies.
• Consideration of making 3D prints of the collection available.
• Long-term collection likely to be passed down to his children; focus on authenticity.

Conclusion

• The artifacts provide substantial evidence of potentially advanced ancient technological ability.
• Encouragement to keep exploring and studying the minutiae to uncover historical truths.