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
🎧 Check Out Other Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5w7ZZHKlr0Ro64uA-ZH3uvSNyzsCKO57
🙏 Support Links:
Join this channel to get access to perks: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/karolypoka/subscribe
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ancienttechnologypodcast
PayPal tip jar: https://paypal.me/ancienttechnology
Revolut tip jar: https://revolut.me/krolybsy1u
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
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:36 - Who is Dr. Martin Odler? Background & specialization
08:14 - Martin's recent research in Egypt
14:35 - Should artifacts go back to Egypt?
22:28 - Martin's presentation starts
24:21 - The earliest metal drill of Naqada
28:55 - Bow drill evidence under the microscope
36:39 - Analyzing ancient metals – microscope & XRF setup in the Petrie Museum
44:09 - Flinders Petrie – his museum, his methods & the pyramid theory he debunked
51:34 - Mark Lehner, the Edgar Cayce Foundation & the Hall of Records
54:47 - What does it mean to be a "mainstream" Egyptologist? Martin's path to copper tools
01:02:55 - The life cycle of Egyptian copper – from ore to recycling
01:09:44 - Saws and tube drills
01:12:21 - 3 books from Dr. Martin Odler & the earliest Egyptian mirror
01:16:06 - Scanning tombs & finds from the Abusir excavation
01:22:55 - Interdisciplinary research & working with archaeometallurgists
01:29:38 - Dr. Martin Odler's YouTube channel
01:30:33 - Martin's recent project at Newcastle University
01:34:02 - Myths about Egyptian copper tools, provenance & forgeries
01:37:02 - Hidden inscription on a Vienna vase everyone missed
01:40:26 - Provenance research
01:43:41 - Ancient battle axe blades & inscriptions under the microscope
01:51:38 - Outro & a teaser from Part 2
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.