Making a 3,000 year old bed I Curator's Corner S5 Ep9

As part of a sub project to the British Museum's excavations in Amara West in Sudan curator Manuela Lehmann and inspector Mohamed Saad commissioned a local carpenter to make a wooden angareeb bed based on ancient fragments excavated from tombs. These beds can still be found in every house in the area and their design has barely changed in over 3,000 years.
#CuratorsCorner #carpentry #archaeology

[@51WCDodge]

So Mustafa works, by' Rule of Thumb'. A Craftsman worthy of respect. Nice to see him treated as such. Knowledge has no bounds.

[@DazraelArianos]

..... what do you think "rule of thumb" means?

[@susanlangley4294]

It was fascinating to watch a master craftsman.

[@51WCDodge]

@@DazraelArianos As I know it, when a building project was started before standardised measurments the Master measured out his 'Inch' with his thumb, and every measure was taken from that. The original Thumb distance was engraved on a stone and any following work used it as the master measure, the Rule of Thumb'

[@Just_Sara]

@@51WCDodge I heard once that "rule of thumb" meant in the old days you couldn't beat your wife with a stick thicker than your thumb. Not sure if that's true or not!

[@Reziac]

The interface between archeology and practical knowledge is fascinating. More, yes, more!

[@51WCDodge]

You can guess at all sorts of artifacts, only when you try to build and use them do you really understand. So many things about the use of materials and tools was never written down , it just was - 'What do you mean , How do you cut with a knife? What a ridiculous question! Only when you try it do you realise, so that's why it is shape it is.

[@JLPicard1648]

Yall need to give your audio engineers a raise. Every one of your videos is so pleasant to listen to. Very interesting content always as well!

[@steven_003]

Underrated work.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Credit where credit's due. So many otherwise good videos have bad audio.

[@SilverDawnArrow]

It's incredible how aspects of a culture can survive for thousands of years

[@emintey]

That sometimes the past is right before our eyes.

[@trampslikeus3575]

I love the weaving pattern on the bed, very interesting.

[@rftulak]

He likes "working in the tombs" because he "finds himself" there. Proof of the Confucius proverb "Where ever you go.....There you are" :-)

[@51WCDodge]

Also he's taking part in the World's Best Treasure Hunt! Not the gold and silver but the thoughts and excitment produced on any dig by any find.

[@ariochiv]

Confucius... or Buckaroo Banzai?

[@Siansonea]

This was super cool, and yes, we would like more stories from excavations. Was there ever any doubt?

[@angelwilson887]

She is great :)

[@ivandumancic2938]

She is passionate about her job ^^

[@lindakile1229]

That video was amazing! The carpenter is a wealth of knowledge and tradition! That reed assembly is beautiful. It looks so strong. Thanks for sharing.

[@51WCDodge]

Look at the Reed ship Ra. If that's your material you learn how to use it. The first person to work out how though, they must have been held up as some sort of God.

[@pipmitchell7059]

When we lived in the southern Sudan in the late 40s and early 50s, we had beds that were also called angareb. The difference was that the stringing was done with strips of leather, but as I remember it, the construction was similar.

[@A_Casual_NPC]

She might think this video was awkward, i think its the best so far

[@jacquejac1840]

This is one of your better videos I've seen. I love that they actually sought out a craftsman to better understand what they were looking at in their discoveries.

[@toniecat1028]

I would like to say, Manuela that you didn't sound like a news moderator at all. Your information was precise, put in a manner that was easy to understand and then delivered to us in a warm, gentle voice that was pleasant to hear. While watching this, I could tell that you're passionate about what you do, which made it more interesting to me. (I imagine that it's not always fun to be working in a prestigious museum filled with so many smart-arsed, ego driven men) ... (Just a guess) Thank you for your Curator's Corner KZbin presentation. I enjoyed it very much.

[@gregrefon]

Manuela and Mohamed thank you.

[@jeffreyquinn3820]

I remember an episode of 'This Old House' where they compared wooden window muntins (the pieces between panes of glass) over the last few hundred years of American history. The muntins have gotten progressively thicker since the 1700's because the quality and strength of available wood has steadily declined. Wood from trees that grow slowly in a healthy standing forest has finer grains and is stronger than farmed or replanted wood, or even wood from a forest that has had selective logging.

[@thomaslaraa]

Jeffrey Quinn I never thought of that but it perfect sense!

[@Lolibeth]

The trees used for wood during the 1700s grew during the Little Ice Age, meaning they would have grown slower. It's why the old masters violins sound so good as well. It's nought to do with tree farming.

[@jeffreyquinn3820]

I don't believe the 'Little Ice Age' had much if any effect on the contiguous 48 states. www.meteo.psu.edu/holocene/public_html/shared/articles/littleiceage.pdf At any rate, the LIA connection to period instrumentals is pretty weak. journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046629

[@garethbaus5471]

@@Lolibeth many of the older trees alive today were growing during the little ice age.

[@80budokai]

The British Museum, great video! Enjoy your Sunday!💯🙏👐

[@maxwlytle]

Thank you for showing us the project and how it was done. It's so important to remember such knowledge in these days of high tech, so we don't forget our skills and relationship to our environment and history. [I too love jigsaw puzzles ;-)]

[@rodalston8505]

I am becoming addicted to these wonderful "curators corner" videos - none that I have watched are disappointng, and some, like this on, are quite brilliant. Thank you.

[@austinschiano3629]

TheBritishMuseum You have no idea how much people value this video and all of your great content. This is so absolutely wonderful.

[@PerspectiveEngineer]

Thanks for saving history. And for being able to even find it... I've watched carpentry die my entire career.

[@dazuk1969]

I really hope that in a couple of hundred years these skilled crafts will not be forgotten. Living in a world that 3D prints ever more stuff....i fear they will. Big shout to all who work at the British museum...peace to ya.

[@rftulak]

Great Job Manuela and Mohamed; thank you.

[@cometmoon4485]

Don't forget Mustafa!

[@bajoobiecuzican]

It's so important to keep these valuable skills alive! Thank you!

[@jlee4039]

Fascinating to hear from Mohamed. Thank you.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I love the way Mustafa braces with his feet. Really skilled, too.

[@VeretenoVids]

Yes, more please and thank you!

[@jbos5107]

A true craftsmen. I hope that he was rewarded for his work. With a few modern changes he could sell the beds all over the world.

[@cherish78748]

7:41 wow. What a striking image that is. You really could "take up your bed" and walk with it.

[@irrigationjoehenggeler2863]

Wonderful story about a museum being more then just a depository of ancient things.

[@robertcochran7103]

This is so impressive. I never thought of people being buried on beds. More amazing is to see the carpenter constructing the bed with hand tools only.

[@Anvilbanger]

As a traditional worker in metal and wood, I found this fascinating. I could watch an hour or more of Mustafa working!

[@arjanverbrugge9899]

Another great and interresting video👍 thanks and keep them coming!!

[@AttyMonroe]

Wonderful video, and wonderful host.

[@lumpyfishgravy]

As an older chap I love how it's OK now for smart girls to geek out. When I was younger that wasn't the case, sadly. I've encouraged both my kids the same way.

[@JETWTF]

Yeah a terrible bit of history that was. Only men were taken seriously in any field of science. Makes one wonder how many Einstein's were making sandwiches instead of scientific breakthroughs.

[@Raiche58]

I love the fact that one person can carry the "bed".

[@censusgary]

It reminds me of the gospel story where Jesus told the paralyzed man, “Rise, pick up your bed, and walk.” Obviously, we aren’t dealing with a very large or heavy bed there.

[@51WCDodge]

@@censusgary Same thought came to mind. But the next time someone boasts of New Lightweight Material and Construction, you'll raise a quiet eyebrow.

[@51WCDodge]

@@Alexeon All Carbon Fibre is a development of the idea. Also was wood a plentiful product then? Beds were often valuable items in history. , so a large bed may have just been to expensive. Joy of history any sensible argument has validity We just don't know! .

[@wetdroidedition2549]

She is shy but so cute! 😊

[@666DarkTommy]

What a pleasant woman!

[@julzmgrforll7278]

Perfect video! More please. Being able to "touch" history is wonderful!

[@51WCDodge]

That's what the British Musuem let you do. I went last week as a direct result of watching these vids. There was man, with a lot of coins from the collection, and you could touch them and play with them and talk about them .A 63 year old guy in a sweet shop! :-)

[@andermac1]

I love the background music. It was very interesting to see the local craftsman at work and his reproduction was exceptional. I would love to see the actual digs now that Time Team is gone. With this age of Go pro cameras you should be able to get video from lots of angles with only 1 camera guy.

[@JETWTF]

Maybe Time Team is not gone. Tim Taylor and some of the original archeologists are looking to bring the show back here on KZbin. They have the license to all the episodes and everything else so they are releasing old episodes and looking for funding to start creating new ones. Time Team Official I believe is the channel name.

[@judithwalker3600]

I loved this episode! How fascinating.

[@Sunshine-zm1fx]

I love this entire series. Thank you so much for providing such delightful and informative content.

[@pattyandbustershow1031]

Very well done

[@jcortese3300]

5:15 -- okay, that's cool. I was skeptical about how similar the old and new beds would be until I saw that.

[@OstblockLatina]

Wow, Mustafa's skill is absolutely amazing.

[@lynnblack6493]

That was very interesting. Learned so much about the artifacts. And that was a lovely bed! Hope to see more on ancient excavations!

[@jwstanley2645]

Thank you so much for this video and all the videos from the Museum.

[@madaug5101]

This was fascinating, thank you. It was something I have never thought about, and I should have.

[@normaharrod5337]

Yes! More digs! Pls. So interesting... I could hear her talk forever. Tell me more!

[@465maltbie]

Fantastic and thanks for sharing this, Charles

[@shadowraith1]

Thank you for a touch of history.

[@bethparker1500]

Yes, I love this series, museum professional s on the job. Don't be self-conscious! Thank you

[@robertandrewhale]

I am deeply fascinated and enthralled by ancient history, so thank you for this wonderful piece of work. Top stuff.

[@llchapman1234]

I love Curator's Corner. More please!

[@LH-ro2ot]

Fascinating video - thank you. Also, I have exactly the same hair as the curator.

[@jeffmcdonald101]

I love your videos and would like to see many more! This one was very enjoyable, thank you very much for your great work!

[@C_22]

This was great!!!

[@Weesperbuurt]

Fascinating! Thank you

[@RealSalica]

Yes , I'm interested . That's great that you found a woodworker . The bed he made looked amazing with the ropes .

[@MultiSirens]

You did great as all the other contributors did, awesome nice to hear from someone who actually works in the field! X

[@ptonpc]

That was very interesting and yes we'd like to see more. Thank you.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Thank you for all your uploads

[@PilkScientist]

Oooooh I wanna make one of those now, seems like a good cot for camping

[@51WCDodge]

Where do you think the idea of a camping cot came from? :-)

[@joanrankin2827]

Very cool! Love creator's corner!

[@sagapoetic8990]

Awesome video -- it's also so rare that we get to meet and hear the perspectives of people who actually live in these places -- too often, we just get to meet the westerners transplanted there. Would love to learn more about this site and get to meet the host country staff and other people involved in the project.

[@jameshutchins3396]

The presentation is wonderful!

[@reginaromsey]

Fascinating! Very clear.

[@enzoma7253]

fascinating!

[@TANGERINEMIND]

Precious!!! Thanks. Best wishes.

[@littletownie4008]

That was interesting, thank you.

[@shitzuation]

Really fascinating! 🥰

[@victoriamilonas1942]

There used to be a philosophy of archaeology that to clarify cultural questions, they would try to find out if there was a modern analog. Nowadays it seems more likely that they would guess. This video gives me hope!

[@jeanhawken4482]

Great stuff

[@aq9714]

Yes I want to hear more about digging!

[@dachers1238]

I love this channel.

[@iambrian769]

Amazing.

[@OndskapensHersker]

So shy, but so intelligent. One of the greatest buried treasures! Die Intelligenz

[@helenangus1675]

Loved the concept of measurement.

[@bluestar.8938]

Thank You : )

[@PigothePig]

wonderful video

[@Tsumami__]

The weaving on the recreation bed was really beautiful with the shape of the carved legs

[@swissthun60]

Great Job..., Well Done :)

[@JF76able]

Miss Lehmann is very cute!

[@hyacinthlynch843]

I hope that this type of craftsmanship is being taught to a younger generation. It would be a great shame if it was lost.

[@sternenregen5489]

That's very intereting. We know so much thing about Ägypts mainregions but theire are so many other fascinating regions in Afrika. For instants the relation to nubia. More from this!

[@annptully695]

My goodness you must have an incredible amount of patience. Bravo!

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

I make different objects in wood. I've found if I make something to be sat on it needs to be a little bit stronger than you think. When I make large boxes I always remember, "if someone has it in a home and the need to stand on something they will stand on the box. I always make sure it is stronger than it would need to be just in case it becomes a ladder.

[@HerrGesetz]

Good presentation and interesting topic.

[@tenpawsteph]

Very cool. More from this project, please? Excited for the Boston Museum Of Fine Art's brand new Nubian exhibit. Will keep my eyes peeled for any bed related artifacts.

[@JamesD92763]

awesome, please give us more on the digs and the beds and other items found

[@paolabolognese3530]

It was marvellous! Thank you so much! Those beds must be fresh during hot weatjer and they well support all the vertebras and joints, i d like to have one for me!

[@colinfew6570]

dude's chisel is a piece of sharpened rebar. I love that kind of ingenuity. He can't just drive to home depot and pick up a new chisel. He makes due with what he has. Our throw away society could learn a thing or two. Although I have a feeling the one from home depot would work a hell of a lot better.

[@UzbekWatermelon]

Manuela is so charming and funny!

[@paulopereira9267]

:) love it.

[@jpelorat]

Great!!! Tell Manuela she did excellent.... Way better than a news reporter 😝

[@zin153]

I wish more information was forthcoming on the species of ancient tree fragments found, aside from the Acacia.

[@wickandde]

I wish there was video of Mustafa making the bed! This was really cool

[@radish6691]

I have a wooden bed. It’s from IKEA. I also don’t live in Sudan so this is not an illuminating comment; I was going for the cheap joke. I apologize. 😔 This sort of thing got me in trouble in school many years ago too. I would have learned a lot more if your curators were my teachers though, their passion is contagious!

[@carterhaughbooks4333]

It's interesting to me that the traditional Sudan bed construction looks so similar to the traditional charpai beds I've seen in Hindi films and also at a museum. Would this be a result of early cultural exchange, or parallel design evolution, with a similar problem being solved similarly because human brains aren't all that different anywhere in the world, & tend to address material problems similarly?

[@DavidMaurand]

i could watch hours of Mustafa at work...

[@abdelazemmohamed3437]

We nubian say to you thank you. شكرا لك.