Shomarka Keita is a physician and biological anthropologist affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and the Institute for Historical Biology, William and Mary. Specializing in bioarchaeology and osteoarchaeology, he has written extensively on identity and biology in Egypt and Nubia.

Egypt is in the northeastern corner of Africa, in essence a 930 mi linear oasis in the eastern Sahara. Ancient Egyptian culture emerged in this region with southern or Upper Egypt as the hotbed of many cultural developments setting off Egypt to its later trajectory. The local roots of early Egypt are uncontested, associated with the desert and Nilotic valley cultures of Nubia and incorporating many traits from the Paleolithic to Bronze Age cultures that existed to its south. However, due to the history of Egypt's exploration and reception by the European gaze, it has traditionally been regarded as 'Western' or 'Near Eastern', divorced from its place of emergence and cultural connections with Africa. This presentation will address the origins of ancient Egyptian culture including aspects of its interconnections with Nubia. Evidence from linguistics, biology and archaeology will be explored.

The lecture will be followed by an informal gathering in the Fralin Museum of Art from 7-7:30pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Shomarka Keita, exhibition curator Anastasia Dakouri-Hild, and the artifacts on display.

This visit is generously supported by the UVA Page-Barbour Endowment, the Archaeological Institute of America, and the Interdisciplinary Archaeology Program.