Museum Rooms Little Room of Treasures

The 21st Dynasty was a difficult time for Egypt and its Pharaohs, and this ushabti is quire unremarkable in that there are many others similar to it, but it is the story behind it which is intriguing. You can find the other grave goods from Bakenmut in the Berlin and British Museums, and of course this one here in The Travel Museum. It comes from the Egyptian Third Intermediate Period, lasting from 1069 BC to 945 BC, almost 3000 years ago. It is made in typical blue glazed Egyptian faience.

The Kings Scribe was an important position in the Royal Court and he would have been responsible for recording the kings thoughts as well as day to day events. He may have been privy to a lot of secret information including potentially where the Pharaohs were buried. We have long suspected that tombs were raided not just by tomb raiders , but by the Pharaohs and Priests themselves, reusing the jewels and gold. Is this true? We don’t really know but it makes for an intriguing story.

We do know that not all the jewels were made specifically for each Pharaoh and like current day Monarchs, there is evidence to support the fact that items were “reused” with Tutankhamun death mask and throne for example - reused from other dynasties, including Tutankhamuns throne which has the Arken or sun god on it.

One hypothesis is that Bakenmut and his fellow priests gathered the remaining mummy’s and pilled them into one area to try to prevent them from being desecrated even further, after tomb raiders had got in. For example, Tutankhamuns mother recently identified by DNA was found in KV35 Pharaoh Amenhotep II Tomb along with several others, possible anecdotal evidence people were moved around. What do you think?

Kings incidentally were a Roman invention (Rex and Regina) so we will stick with Pharaohs. Pharaoh could be either male of female, and whilst we are on the subject if you here a pre Roman ancient briton called a King - they are not Kings but Chieftains and like Pharaohs non gender specific.

You can find Bakenmuts Ushabti and story in The Travel Museum collection.

It is an odd feeling being hunted - and fortunately one which occurs very infrequently, it is normally mankind who is the hunter and destroyer. Leopard seals are amazing animals, up to 3.5 meters long and up to 600 kg in weight. They have a very varied diet from eating other seals, penguins and the ability to filter Krill like Crabeater seals. They hunt by grabbing and then smashing their prey into the water. If you look in the photo reel below you will find an odd looking tooth from the museum collection which shows how the filtration process works.

We were taking some photographs off a Zodiac in open water, when a large - and I mean large and quite aggressive leopard seal, surfaced making its usual snorting noises as it gulped in air. If you have never seen one, they have enormous heads and Leopard like canine teeth. This particular animal was evidently hungry and though we would made a nice meal? I suspect we wouldn’t eat well - too bony.

I have read accounts from early Antarctic explorers about being stalked by Leopard seals, and of the tragic death of a snorkeler who was drowned by one, and although they are aggressive they are not normally a threat to humans.

This particular animal had other ideas and soon set about trying to grab people off the boat, at one point catching a ruck sack, amongst the shrieks and screams; so we moved on quite a distance- a little shaken up, but safe in the knowledge we had left them behind. But they had other ideas and followed us - we left they caught up - a game of cat and mouse. Finally frustrated at not being able to catch dinner, they launched an attack on the boat - repeatedly biting it.

That was it it - time to retreat for good, and in our haste to do so we hit uncharted rocks being the propeller - which fortunately held up long enough for us to get back to the “mother ship” MV Explorer.

Was it really hunting us - or just being territorial, maybe defending young? Orcas are the only predator - other than man of leopard seals so maybe they saw it as a solitary Orca and fancied its chances. Having read Antarctic explorer accounts the behaviour ties in with their stories of stalking and grabbing. I think it is important to remember that we are on their patch - we are the intruders, and ultimately the unharmed Leopard seal had the last laugh as we limped back home.

You can find the propeller in The Travel Museum Collection

It’s behind glass because quite honestly it smells bad. Really bad. Months of penguin poo permeating into the fabric does not make a pleasant smell. The Union flag flys at the post office and huts in Antartica - one of the last outposts of Britain, also claimed by Chile and Argentina.

It was bought at a charity auction in Antartica to raise money for the plight of the albatross many of whom are dying as a result of long lining - a form of fishing using long lines, they die going after the bait and end up what is termed - bye catch - eg things you didn’t want. It is very easy to solve using hook pods to stop the birds getting the hook and just $10 USD will hopefully save one of these magnificent, graceful and endangered birds. We helped to “save” 22. - over to you.

This flag flew in the 2011 season and is battered and faded from the harsh Antartica weather, signed by the crew of the station, it makes a fitting tribute to one of the last pristine wildernesses on the planet and of course our precious albatrosses.

Antartica is a vast continent and in size it is the fifth-largest continent, being about 40% larger than Europe. It has an area of 14,200,000 km2 and if were a country it would be the 2nd biggest in the world after Russia.

When we visited the station at Port Lockroy we posted some cards in the post box here, but they didn’t turn up. Then 6 months later they arrived - We were one of the last ships in for the season and they must have forgotten to empty the. box - still better late than never.

Anyone seen our basecamp Everest ones?

The huts themselves are really interesting, with old tins and brands that if you are of a certain age you would recognise instantly..

You can find the Union Flag* from Port Lockroy in The Travel Museum Collection.

*It is only the Union Jack when it is on the Jack Pole, otherwise it is the Union Flag.,