The Egyptian government announced in 2010 the discovery of an Egyptian tomb by an Egyptian-American team. One of the American members was noted African-American historian and author Anthony T. Browder. Browder is the founder and director of IKG Cultural Resources and has devoted 30 years researching ancient Egyptian history, science, philosophy and culture. He has traveled to Egypt 47 times since 1980 and is currently director of the ASA Restoration Project, which is funding the excavation and restoration of the 25th Dynasty tomb of Karakhamun in Luxor, Egypt.
The discovery of the burial chamber of Karakhamun was led by Elena Pischikova, whom Browder met in Egypt in 2008 while he was conducting research for a new book. She gave him a private tour of the tomb and discussed its historical relevance to African Americans. Pischikova said she might have to end the excavation because of a lack of funding, and lamented the fact that traditional funding institutions were not interested in the 25th Dynasty because it was Black African.
Understanding the historical significance of this discovery, Browder made a commitment to assist Pischikova. In 2008, he founded the nonprofit corporation ASA Restoration Project — named in honor of noted late African-American psychologist and historian Asa G. Hilliard III — to raise funds for the continued excavation of the tomb and to promote awareness of Karakhamun and the 25th Dynasty. In 2009 and 2010, the Asa Restoration Project sponsored three teams of African Americans to work at the site during the summer excavation season. Pischikova has acknowledged that without the support of Browder and the ASA Restoration Project this year’s discoveries would not have occurred.
Browder has has been conducting study tours there since 1987. He is the author of six books, including “From the Browder File” and “Nile Valley Contributions to Civilization.” In 1989, he took his seven-year-old daughter Atlantison one of his study tours and they co-authored her first book, “My First Trip to Africa,” when she was eight. More recently, the father–daughter team became the first African Americans to enter the burial chamber of Karakhamun, where they spent a week excavating and photographing its contents.
“While the excavation of Karakhamun’s tomb has taken us six years, and cost over $100,000, our work won’t be done until we restore the tomb and open it to the public,” said Browder. “Our biggest challenge is getting the word out to our community and eliciting their support. To that end, I will issue regular reports from Egypt via, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and document our progress at the excavation site and the Egyptians’ ongoing struggle for democracy. We have received commitments from the dean of Howard University’s School of Education to produce curricula on the 25th Dynasty that will benefit every school system in the U.S. that teaches a course on ancient Egypt. Finally, young minds will have an opportunity to learn of the role Black Africans played in developing ancient Egypt and initiating its fourth and final Golden Age.”
To follow the excavation of Karakhamun’s tomb, visit Facebook at TheASARestorationProject, Twitter at TheAsaProject and YouTube.com at Tony Browder.
Contact staff writer Bobbi Booker at (215) 893-5749 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
