Janet Richards

Janet Richards is Professor of Egyptology in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan and Curator for Dynastic Egypt at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology. Her work bridges academic research and public engagement through fieldwork, curation, and publication.

Educational Background:

• Northwestern University — Anthropology and Egyptology
• University of Pennsylvania — Anthropology and Egyptology

Her research centers on ancient Northeast African archaeology and history, with a focus on mortuary and votive contexts as expressions of ideology, power, and social transformation. She investigates how biographical narratives and landscape use reflect responses to political crises in ancient Egypt. Her work combines anthropological theory with archaeological evidence to understand long-term societal change.

The recent and ongoing publications and projects reflect sustained engagement with themes of legitimacy, memory, and identity in ancient states. These span from large-scale excavations at Abydos to museum exhibitions that communicate archaeological methods to broader audiences.

Scientific and Professional Contributions:

• Director, University of Michigan Abydos Middle Cemetery Project (since 1995)
• Curator, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology — 'Discovery! Excavating the Ancient World' exhibition
• Author of Society and Death in Ancient Egypt (2005)
• Co-editor of Order, Legitimacy, and Wealth in Ancient States (2000)
• Current research on Writing Ancient Lives: Weni the Elder and ancient Egyptian responses to political crisis

Richards advises on archaeological interpretation and museum curation, though formal advisees are not listed. Her work is supported by long-term institutional affiliations and field research grants. She contributes to both academic scholarship and public understanding of archaeology through interdisciplinary collaboration and exhibition development.

She is actively involved with the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, where her curatorial work integrates research, education, and outreach. Her projects often involve team-based fieldwork, interdisciplinary analysis, and engagement with both scholarly and public audiences.