This talk was given by Dr Kathryn Piquette and Mick Oakey at the March 2026 meeting of the Essex Egyptology Group.
Event information
Having previously offered two lectures on the Narmer Palette to the Essex Egyptology Group, for this third presentation Dr Kathryn Piquette teams up with stonecarver, Michael (Mick) Oakey. Thanks to a grant from the EEG, Kathryn and Mick have been able to undertake some experimental stonecarving to further our understanding of how this fascinating and exquisitely-crafted example of early pharaonic art and writing was made. They will share the preliminary results of their work using a slab of similar stone, replica tools, and a variety of techniques in an attempt to reverse-engineer the production process. Based on comparisons of the experimental toolmarks with the original traces on the Narmer Palette — both recorded using high-resolution computer-enhanced images — Kathryn and Mick are excited to share with you the new insights gained. Richly illustrated lectures, including video clips of their work, will be presented for discussion. Participants will also be able to handle a full-scale replica Narmer Palette and examine modern samples of carved stone and replica tools.