Mélie Louys is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Archaeology

More information about Mélie Louys

Office days

Mélie is currently spliting her time between Paris and Leiden, and will soon be available at the Faculty from Monday to Friday

Research

Mélie's research is focusing on the better understanding of work practices of the workmen of Deir el-Médina (Luxor, Egypt) and their families. This is a very specialist community, that of the workmen responsible for the carving and decoration of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Many studies describing and analysing aspects of this community have been published, but never from the perspective of the actual physical remains of those workmen.

Mélie is conducting a pluridisciplinar research by studying and comparing textual, iconographical and osteological information regarding the daily work life of this unique population of workmen and their families in ancient Egypt.

Curriculum vitae

Mélie Louys studied Egyptology in Paris for her bachelor's degree at the Ecole du Louvre (2012-2015) and pursued her studies in Paris-IV Sorbonne for her Master's degree in both Egyptology and Archaeology (2015-2017). The will of conducted pluridisciplinar studies and her interest for Bioarchaology leaded her to join the National Museum of Natural History of Paris for a Master's degree focused on osteology and bioarchaology. She conducted research on ancient Egyptian skulls from NMNH of Paris' collection.

Mélie joined the Bioarchaology Team of Deir el-Médina (IFAO mission, Luxor, Egypt), led by Anne Austin (Assistant Professor University of Missouri, St-Louis, USA) in 2020. She started her PhD at Leiden University in 2023.