In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Martin Odler, an Egyptologist and leading expert on ancient Egyptian copper tools, to discuss his newest discovery: the earliest confirmed metal drill ever found in Egypt, dating back roughly 5,300 years.

This is Part 1 of our conversation. In Part 2, we get into topics such as the Petrie core, stone vases and lathes, the Giza iron plate, the Hawara Labyrinth, and who really built the Great Pyramid.

Part 2 is coming soon, subscribe so you don’t miss it.

Dr. Martin Odler's channel: https://www.youtube.com/@martinodler

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Dr. Martin Odler's books mentioned in the podcast:

https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Copper-Tools-Archaeopress-Egyptology/dp/1784914428

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Connections-Archaeometallurgical-University-Archaeopress/dp/1789697409

https://www.amazon.com/Copper-Ancient-Egypt-Pyramid-Culture/dp/9004524088

Sources:

Middle Kingdom: papyrus Reisner II, published in Simpson, William Kelly. Papyrus Reisner II: Accounts of the Dockyard Workshop at This in the Reign of Sesostris I. Transcription and Commentary. Museum of Fine Arts, 1965.

New Kingdom: notebook of Dhutmose, published in Hölzl, Regina, Michael Neumann, and Robert J. Demarée. The notebook of Dhutmose: p. Vienna ÄS 10321. Probleme der Ägyptologie 37. Brill, 2018.

Chapters:

0:00:00 - Intro

0:02:36 - Who is Dr. Martin Odler? Background & specialization

0:08:14 - Martin's recent research in Egypt

0:14:35 - Should artifacts go back to Egypt?

0:22:28 - Martin's presentation starts

0:24:21 - The earliest metal drill of Naqada

0:28:55 - Bow drill evidence under the microscope

0:36:39 - Analyzing ancient metals – microscope & XRF setup in the Petrie Museum

0:44:09 - Flinders Petrie – his museum, his methods & the pyramid theory he debunked

0:51:34 - Mark Lehner, the Edgar Cayce Foundation & the Hall of Records

0:54:47 - What does it mean to be a "mainstream" Egyptologist? Martin's path to copper tools

1:02:55 - The life cycle of Egyptian copper – from ore to recycling

1:09:44 - Saws and tube drills

1:12:21 - 3 books from Dr. Martin Odler & the earliest Egyptian mirror

1:16:06 - Scanning tombs & finds from the Abusir excavation

1:22:55 - Interdisciplinary research & working with archaeometallurgists

1:29:38 - Dr. Martin Odler's YouTube channel

1:30:33 - Martin's recent project at Newcastle University

1:34:02 - Myths about Egyptian copper tools, provenance & forgeries

1:37:02 - Hidden inscription on a Vienna vase everyone missed

1:40:26 - Provenance research

1:43:41 - Ancient battle axe blades & inscriptions under the microscope

1:51:38 - Outro & a teaser from Part 2