Nico Staring
Guest Researcher
- Name
- Dr. N.T.B. Staring
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 2727
- n.t.b.staring@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-3575-4377
Nico Staring is an archaeologist specialising in pharaonic Egyptian archaeology, art and material culture, especially of the Late Bronze Age (New Kingdom, c. 1539-1078 BCE). The main focus of his research is on the Memphite necropolis at Saqqara near modern-day Cairo, where he also conducts archaeological fieldwork.
More information about Nico Staring
News and past events
Fields of interest
My fields of interest centre on Egypt during the Late Bronze Age (New Kingdom, c. 1539-1078 BCE), and include:
- Landscape archaeology
- Ancient craftsmanship
- Funerary art and archaeology
- Prosopography
- Graffiti practices
- Archaeological theory
Research
The main focus of my research is on the necropolis of Saqqara near ancient Memphis. It involves archaeological fieldwork, archive research, and the study of decontextualised museum objects.
My current research project (2021-2024), which I am undertaking at the University of Liège (sponsored by the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique - FNRS), is entitled 'Private Patronage in Ancient Egyptian Tomb Production: Assessing the Relationship between Commissioning Patron and Artists in the New Kingdom Necropolis at Saqqara, c. 1539-1078 BCE.
My latest book project, to be published with Brill as 'The Saqqara Necropolis through the New Kingdom: Biography of an Ancient Egyptian Cultural Landscape', is the first comprehensive monographic treatment of the New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara, and addresses questions fundamental to understanding the site’s development through time.
I am also currently working on the publication of the monumental relief-decorated tomb of an army official from the time of Tutankhamun, named Ry. Since the tomb's excavation in 2013 (by the Leiden-Turin archaeological expedition to Saqqara), I have been able to reconstruct the tomb by virtually joining wall fragments and other architectural elements now spread over museum collections around the globe.
Grants and awards
Individual:
2021: Faculty Impact Fund research grant
2021: Mandat Chargé de recherches du Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
2019: Netherlands Institute for the Near East (NINO) outgoing mobility grant
2018: Friends of Saqqara Foundation research grant
2017: Prof. dr. A.W. Byvanck Fonds / Leiden University Fund (LUF) research grant
2013: Macquarie University Department HDR research grant
2012: Macquarie University Department HDR research grant
2012: Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (MQRES)
2012: International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS), Australia
2011: Lutfia Rabbani Foundation travel scholarship
As co-applicant:
2021: Faculty Impact Fund (Leiden University Faculty of Humanities) research grant
2017: NWO Vidi Talent Programme research grant with Lara Weiss (PI) and Ramadan Hussein
CV
Education:
PhD in Ancient History (Egyptology), Macquarie University, Sydney (2016)
Master of Arts, Archaeology of the Near East, Leiden University (2008)
Employment, principal appointments:
2021-2024: Postdoctoral research fellow (Chargé de recherches) of the F.R.S.-FNRS at the University of Liège
2020-2021: Postdoctoral teaching fellow (doctor-assistent), Department of Archaeology, KU Leuven
2019-2021: Honorary research fellow, Czech Institute of Egyptology, Charles University, Prague
2017-2021: Postdoctoral research fellow for the NWO Vidi project "The Walking Dead at Saqqara: The Making of a Cultural Geography", Leiden University (LIAS)
2014: Programme coordinator and lecturer 'Cairo semester', Leiden University & KU Leuven
2009-2010: University lecturer (interim) in Egyptian Archaeology, Art and Material Culture, Leiden University (LIAS)
Key publications
Authored monographs
Staring, N., The Saqqara Necropolis through the New Kingdom: Biography of an Ancient Egyptian Cultural Landscape, CHAN 131 (Leiden: Brill, 2022).
Edited books
Weiss, L., Staring, N., Twiston Davies , H. (eds), Perspectives on Lived Religion II: The Making of a Cultural Geography, PALMA 27 (Leiden: Sidestone).
Staring, N., Twiston Davies, H., Weiss, L. (eds), Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices - Transmission - Landscape, PALMA 21 (Leiden: Sidestone, 2019).
Articles and book chapters
Staring, N., The Memphite Necropolis through the Amarna Period. A Study of Private Patronage, Transmission of Iconographic Motifs, and Scene Details, in: Coppens, F. (ed.), Continuity, Discontinuity and Change: Perspectives from the New Kingdom to the Roman Era (Prague: Charles University, 2021), 13–73.
Staring, N., From Landscape Biography to the Social Dimension of Burial. A View from Memphis, c. 1539-1078 BCE, in: N. Staring, H. Twiston Davies, and L. Weiss (eds), Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices – Transmission – Landscape, PALMA 21 (Leiden: Sidestone, 2019), 207–223.
Staring, N., The Tomb of Ptahemwia, ‘Great Overseer of Cattle’ and ‘Overseer of the Treasury of the Ramesseum’, at Saqqara, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 102 (2016), 145–170.
Guest Researcher
- Faculty of Humanities
- Leiden Institute for Area Studies
- SMES Egyptologie
- Bělohoubková D., Pieke G. & Staring N.T.B. (2021), Continuity, discontinuity and change in non-royal tombs at Memphis, Amarna, and Thebes: towards a synthesis. In: Coppens F. (Ed.) Continuity, discontinuity and change: perspectives from the New Kingdom to the Roman era. Prague: Charles University. 193-207.
- Staring N.T.B. (2021), The Memphite necropolis through the Amarna period: a study of private patronage, transmission of iconographic motifs, and scene details. In: Coppens F. (Ed.) Continuity, discontinuity and change: perspectives from the New Kingdom to the Roman era. Prague: Charles University. 13-73.
- Del Vesco P., Greco C., Soliman D., Staring N.T.B. & Weiss L.V. (2020), The Leiden-Turin Archaeological Expedition to Saqqara: Preliminary Results of the 2019 Fieldwork Season, Rivista del Museo Egizio 4: 62-93.
- Staring N.T.B. (2020), The Late Eighteenth Dynasty Tomb of Ry at Saqqara (reign of Tutankhamun). Horemheb’s Chief of Bowmen and Overseer of Horses Contextualised, Rivista del Museo Egizio 4: 1-46.
- Pelt W.P. van & Staring N.T.B. (2020), The graffiti. In: Raven, M.J. (Ed.) The Tombs of Ptahemwia and Sethnakht at Saqqara. Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities no. 22 Leiden: Sidestone Press. 145-161.
- Staring N.T.B. & Pelt W.P. van (2019), Interpreting Graffiti in the Saqqara New Kingdom Necropolis as Expressions of Popular Customs and Beliefs, Rivista del Museo Egizio 3: 1-49.
- Del Vesco P., Greco C., Müller M., Staring N.T.B., Weiss L.V., Gasperini V., Rossi C., Salvador A., Scheers A.J., Schrader S. & Warner N. (2019), Current Research of the Leiden-Turin Archaeological Mission in Saqqara. A Preliminary Report on the 2018 Season, Rivista del Museo Egizio 3: 1-25.
- Staring N.T.B. (2019), From Landscape Biography to the Social Dimension of Burial. A View from Memphis, Egypt, c. 1539-1078 BCE. In: Staring N.T.B., Twiston Davies H., Weiss L. (Ed.) Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices - Transmission - Landscape. Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities no. 21 Leiden: Sidestone Press. 207-223.
- Staring N.T.B. (2019), Landschapsbiografie en het gebruik van ruimte in een dodenstad, Ta-Mery 12: 80-93.
- Staring N.T.B., Twiston Davies H.P.R. & Weiss L.V. (2019), Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices - Transmission - Landscape Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities no. 21. Leiden: Sidestone Press.
- Staring N.T.B., Twiston Davies H. & Weiss L. (2019), Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices - Transmission - Landscape. In: Staring N.T.B., Twiston Davies H., Weiss L. (Ed.) Perspectives on Lived Religion: Practices - Transmission - Landscape. Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities no. 21 Leiden: Sidestone Press. 7-13.
- Staring N.T.B. (2019), Piecing Together the Dispersed Tomb of Ry at Saqqara, Egyptian Archaeology 54(Spring 2019): 41-45.
- Staring N.T.B. (2018), Fotografie in Egypte: de eerste twee decennia (1839-1859), Phoenix : bulletin uitgegeven door het Vooraziatisch-Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 64(3): 4-16.
- Staring N.T.B. (2018), Keys to Unlocking the Identity of "Tomb X": Introducing Horemheb's Army Official, Ry, Saqqara Newsletter 16: 31-46.
- Staring N.T.B. (2018), Products of the Physical Engagement with Sacred Space: the New Kingdom Non-textual Tomb-graffiti at Saqqara. In: Haring B.J.J., Moezel K.V.J. van der, Soliman D.M. (Ed.) Decoding Signs of Identity. Egyptian Workmen's Marks in Archaeological, Historical, Comparative and Theoretical Perspective. Proceedings of a Conference in Leiden, 13-15 December 2013.. no. Egyptologische Uitgaven 32 Leiden-Leuven: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten-Peeters. 79-112.
- Staring N.T.B. (2018), Review of "Volume I: 4000–1300 BC. (2nd edition), Volume II: Boxes, Chests and Footstools. (2nd edition). & Volume III: Ramesside Furniture", Killen G Review of: Killen G. (2017) Volume I: 4000–1300 BC. (2nd edition), Volume II: Boxes, Chests and Footstools. (2nd edition). & Volume III: Ramesside Furniture, Ancient Egyptian Furniture, Bibliotheca Orientalis 75(3-4): 323-328.
- Staring N.T.B. (2017), Graffiti on a Thirteenth Dynasty stela from Abydos (Louvre C8). In: Biase-Dyson C. di, Donovan L. (Ed.) The Cultural Manifestations of Religious Experience. Studies in Honour of Boyo G. Ockinga.. Ägypten und Altes Testament no. 85 Münster: Ugarit Verlag. 251-262.
- Staring N.T.B. (2017), Het fascinerende verhaal van een verloren gewaande stèle, Ta-Mery, jaarlijks magazine voor vrienden van het oude Egypte 10: 140-161.
- Staring N.T.B. (2017), Review of: Bárta M. & et al (2014) The Tomb of the sun priest Neferinpu (AS 37) (Excavations of the Czech Institute of Egyptology. Abusir, XXIII), Abusir, Bibliotheca Orientalis LXXIV(5-6): 572-578.
- Staring N.T.B. (2017), The Mid-Nineteenth Century Exploration of the Saqqara New Kingdom Necropolis. In: Imaging and Imagining the Memphite Necropolis. Liber Amicorum René van Walsem.. Egyptologische Uitgaven no. 30 Leiden, Leuven: Netherlands Institute for the Near East, Peeters Publishers. 95-113.
- Staring N.T.B. (2017), Toward a Prosopography of New Kingdom Tomb Owners in the Memphite Necropolis. In: Bárta M., Coppens F., Krejcí J. (Ed.) Abusir and Saqqara in the Year 2015. Prague: Faculty of Arts, Prague University. 593-611.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), 27 catalogue entries. In: Giovetti P., Picchi D. (Eds.) Egypt: Millenary Splendour. The Leiden Leiden Collection in Bologna. Milan: Skira.
- Kaper O.E. (2016), Koninginnen van de Nijl: Macht en schoonheid in het Nieuwe Rijk (1539-1077 v.Chr.). Leiden: Sidestone Press.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), Revisiting Three Objects in Berlin Pertaining to the Mayor of Memphis, Ptahmose: The “Lost” Faience Stela ÄM 19718 and the Limestone Pyramid Panels ÄM 1631–1632, Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 45: 341-374.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), Sakkara: De verborgen tombes uit het vroege Nieuwe Rijk, Ta-Mery, jaarlijks magazine voor vrienden van het oude Egypte 9: 124-155.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), Saqqara: The History and Topography of a New Kingdom Necropolis. In: Giovetti P., Picchi D. (Eds.) Egypt: Millenary Splendour. The Leiden Leiden Collection in Bologna. Milan: Skira. 210-215.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), The Mid-19th Century Exploration of Saqqara: Mariette and Early Photography, Saqqara Newsletter 14: 37-50.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), The Tomb of Ptahemwia, 'Great Overseer of Cattle' and 'Overseer of the Treasury of the Ramesseum', at Saqqara, Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 102: 145-170.
- Duinker J. & Staring N.T.B. (2016), Twee eeuwen Egypte in Leiden: Het Rijksmuseum van Oudheden 1818-2015, Ta-Mery, jaarlijks magazine voor vrienden van het oude Egypte 8: 110-149.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), Wege einer verloren geglaubten Stele: Berlin ÄM 19718, aMun: Magazin für die Freunde Ägyptischer Museen und Sammlungen (53): 35-42.
- Staring N.T.B. (2016), Zoete verzen. In: Kaper O.E. (Ed.) Koninginnen van de Nijl. Macht en schoonheid in het Nieuwe Rijk (1539-1077 v.Chr.). Leiden: Sidestone Press. 65-66.
- Staring N.T.B. (14 September 2015), Studies in the Saqqara New Kingdom Necropolis: From the Mid-19th Century Exploration of the Site to New Insights into the Life and Death of Memphite Officials, Their Tombs and the Use of Sacred Space (PhD thesis. Department of Ancient History, Faculty of Arts, Macquarie University). Sydney, Australia. Supervisor(s) and Co-supervisor(s): Ockinga, B.G., Binder, S.
- Staring N.T.B. (2015), 27 catalogue entries. In: Giovetti P., Picchi D. (Eds.) Egitto: Splendore millenario. La collezione di Leiden a Bologna. Milan: Skira.
- Staring N.T.B. (2015), Contextualizing Old Kingdom Elite Tomb Decoration: Fixed Rules Versus Personal Choice. In: Kousoulis P., Lazaridis N. (Ed.) Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress of Egyptologists, University of the Aegean, Rhodes 22-29 May 2008. Volume II. no. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 241 Leuven: Peeters. 1839-1847.
- Staring N.T.B. (2015), Saqqara: storia e topografia di una necropoli del Nuovo Regno. In: Giovetti P., Picchi D. (Eds.) Egitto: Splendore millenario. La collezione di Leiden a Bologna. Milan: Skira. 210-215.
- Staring N.T.B. (2015), The Personnel of the Theban Ramesseum in the Memphite Necropolis, Jaarbericht van het Vooraziatisch Egyptisch Genootschap Ex Oriente Lux 45: 51-92.
- Staring N.T.B. (2015), The Title HA.ty-a.w HA inb.w n.w PtH, “Mayor of Beyond the Walls of Ptah”, and Early 19th Dynasty Temple Building at Memphis, Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde 142(2): 167-190.
- Staring N.T.B. (2014), A Relief from the Tomb of the Memphite Mayor Ptahmose in the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Bulletin of the Australian Centre for Egyptology 25: 117-146.
- Staring N.T.B. (2014), The Tomb of Ptahmose, Mayor of Memphis. Analysis of an Early 19th Dynasty Funerary Monument at Saqqara, Bulletin de l'Institut Français Archéologie Orientale 114(2): 455-518.
- Staring N.T.B. (2013), De vroege fotografie van het Oude Egypte, Ta-Mery, jaarlijks magazine voor vrienden van het oude Egypte 6: 72-115.
- Staring N.T.B. (2013), Review of : Die Felsgräbernekropole der Qubbet el-Hawa bei Assuan. I. Abteilung. (Band 1-3, Pläne und Tafeln). Architektur, Darstellungen, Texte, archäologischer Befund und Funde der Gräber QH 24-QH 34p,, Edel E., Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh, 2008 Review of: Edel, E. (2008) Die Felsgräbernekropole der Qubbet el-Hawa bei Assuan. I. Abteilung. (Band 1-3, Pläne und Tafeln). Architektur, Darstellungen, Texte, archäologischer Befund und Funde der Gräber QH 24-QH 34p, Bibliotheca Orientalis LXX(5-6): 582-588.
- Staring N.T.B. (2012), Review of: Der Manuelian P. & Simpson W.K. (2009) Mastabas of Nucleus Cemetery G 2100. Part I: Major Mastabas G 2100-2220. (Giza Mastabas, Volume 8), Bibliotheca Orientalis .
- Staring N.T.B. (2012), Review of: Marochetti, E.F. (2010) The Reliefs of the Chapel of Nebmaatra Mentuhotep at Gebelein, Bibliotheca Orientalis LXIX(5-6): 472-478.
- Staring N.T.B. (2012), Review of: Dijkstra, J.H.F. (2012) Syene I. The Figural and Textual Graffiti from the Temple of Isis at Aswan, Beiträge zur Ägyptische Bauforschung und Altertumskunde, Bibliotheca Orientalis LXX(3-4): 381-387.
- Horn M., Kramer J., Soliman D., Staring N.T.B., Van den Hoven C. & Weiss L. (Eds.) (2011), Current Research in Egyptology 2010. Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Symposium which took place at Leiden University, The Netherlands January 2010. Oxford: Oxbow Books.
- Staring N.T.B. (2011), De “resesvehoofden” uit het Oude Rijk: een archeologische analyse, Ta-Mery Jaarlijks magazine voor de vrienden van het oude Egypte 4.
- Zitman M., Koopmans B., Staring N.T.B., Dekker R., Devens C. & Duinker J. (2011), Editorship Member of editorial staff Ta-Mery Jaarlijks magazine voor de vrienden van het oude Egypte 3.
- Staring N.T.B. (21 April 2010), De koningstomben in de Vallei van de Koningen, Thebe (Egypte) (Lecture). Leiden, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
- Staring N.T.B. (6 January 2010), Interpreting figural graffiti. Case studies from a funerary context (Lecture). Leiden.
- Staring N.T.B. (2011), Interpreting figural graffiti: case studies from a funerary context. In: Horn M., Kramer J., Soliman D., Staring N., Van den Hoven C., Weiss L. (Eds.) Current Research in Egyptology 2010. Proceedings of the eleventh annual symposium which took place at Leiden University, The Netherlands January 2010. Oxford: Oxbow Books. 145-156.
- Staring N.T.B. (22 May 2009), Fixed rules versus personal choice: on the dynamics of Memphite Old Kingdom elite tomb decoration (Lecture). Cambridge.
- Staring N.T.B. (2011), Fixed rules or personal choice? On the composition and arrangement of daily life scenes in Old Kingdom elite tombs. In: Strudwick N., Strudwick H. (Eds.) Old Kingdom: New Perspectives. Egyptian Art and Archaeology 2750-2150 BC. Proceedings of a Conference at the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge, May 2009. Oxford and Oakville: Oxbow Books. 256-269.
- Staring N.T.B. (22 April 2009), Mummies, tomben en goden: begraven worden in het oude Egypte (Lecture). Leiden, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden.
- Staring N.T.B. (9 January 2009), Individualizing Old Kingdom elite tomb decoration: a comparative study of Giza and Saqqara (Lecture). University of Liverpool.
- Staring N.T.B. (2009), Review of: Ziegler C. (ed.) (2007) Le Mastaba d’Akhethetep, Fouilles du Louvre à Saqqara, LXVI: 581-586.
- Dekker R., Duinker J., Koopmans B., Kramer J., Menninga M., Staring N.T.B. & Zitman M. (2009), Ta-Mery Jaarlijks magazine voor de vrienden van het oude Egypte Member of editorial staff Ta-Mery Jaarlijks magazine voor de vrienden van het oude Egypte 2.
- As A. van, Duistermaat K., Groot N., Jacobs L., Schuster J., Staring N.T.B. & Zineldeen R. (2009), The Potters of Fustat (Cairo) in 2008 – A Preliminary Report, Leiden Journal of pottery studies 25: 5-30.
- Staring N.T.B. (18 October 2008), Tell Edfu - Nieuwe opgravingen naar een provinciaal administratief centrum (Lecture). Leiden.
- Staring N.T.B. (28 May 2008), Desert related themes in the iconographic programme of Memphite Old Kingdom elite tombs (Lecture). Rhodes.
- Staring N.T.B. (10 January 2008), The Iconographic Programme in the Elite Tombs of the Memphite Region. A study of desert related (Lecture). University of Manchester.
- Staring N.T.B. (2008), Iconographic Programme and Tomb Architecture: A Focus on Desert-related Themes. In: Gashe V., Finch J. (Ed.) Current Research in Egyptology IX. Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Symposium which took place at The KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, University of Manchester, January 2008. Bolton: Rutherford Press. 129-138.
- Staring N.T.B. (6 December 2007), De nieuwe opgraving in Tell Edfu 2001-2007 (Lecture). Leiden.
- Raven M.J. & Staring N.T.B. (2007), 12 catalogue entries. In: Recklinghausen D. von (Ed.) Ägyptische Mumien: Unsterblichkeit im Land der Pharaonen. Mainz am Rhein: Philipp von Zabern.
- Staring N.T.B. & Van Pelt P. (2007), De opgravingen in Saqqara van 2007. TCMO Nieuwsbrief.
- Council Member