Donald Ryan
Faculty Fellow
Phone: 253-538-5664
Email: ryandp@plu.edu
Office Location:Hauge Administration Building - Room 220 L
- Professional
- Biography
- Personal
Education
- Ph.D., Archaeology, Union Graduate School, The Union Institute , Cincinnati, Ohio, 1988
- M.A., Anthropology (Archaeology), University of Washington, 1982
- B.A., Political Science (International Relations), Pacific Lutheran University, 1979
Books
- A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt: The Real Lives of the People Who Lived There (O'Mara 2022) : View Book
- 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There (24 Hours in Ancient History Book 2) (O'Mara 2018) : View Book
- Ancient Egypt: The Basics (Routledge 2016) : View Book
- Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist (Harper/Collins 2010) : View Book
- Ancient Egypt on 5 Deben a Day (Traveling on 5) (Thames & Hudson 2010) : View Book
- A Shattered Visage Lies...Nineteenth Century Poetry Inspired by Ancient Egypt (Rutherford 2007) : View Book
- A Study of Ancient Egyptian Cordage in the British Museum (British Museum Occasional Papers) (with David Hansen, British Museum Occasional Papers 1988) : View Book
Biography
Donald P. Ryan is best known for his research in Egypt including excavations in the Valley of the Kings. He has led many expeditions and is the author of several books and numerous scientific and popular articles on archaeological subjects. For several years, Ryan worked closely with world-renowned Norwegian explorer, archaeologist and writer, the late Thor Heyerdahl, whose open-minded approach to the topic of early human use of the ocean was a hallmark of his remarkable research. Ryan is also a Research Associate at the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway, and a Fellow of both The Explorers Club and The Royal Geographical Society.
SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* Directed excavations, conservation activities and research in Egypt’s ancient New Kingdom cemetery, the Valley of the Kings:
– excavated and documented eleven undecorated tombs.
– rediscovered the lost tomb KV 60 in which was found a mummy since identified as the female pharaoh, Hatshepsut.
– rediscovered the three lost “animal tombs” (KV 50, 51, and 52).
* Served as the full-time research collaborator of Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, during the last seven years of Heyerdahl’s life including co-directing excavations at the Piramides de Guimar, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
* Conducted field work with Hawaiian petroglyphs.
* Author of several books (with translations and editions in over 15 languages) including an archaeological memoir, Beneath the Sands of Egypt, a travel guide to pharaonic Egypt (Ancient Egypt on Five Deben a Day), and volumes describing daily life (e.g., 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt and A Year in the Life of Ancient Egypt. Author of dozens of popular and scientific articles.
* Presenter of scholarly papers at many US and international conferences and presenter of numerous invited guest popular lectures.
* Work has been featured in television programs produced by BBC, Discovery Channel, History Channel , National Geographic and others.
* College/University instructor for 30+ years including courses in history, archaeology, Egyptology, anthropology, writing, expedition training.
* Awards included Pacific Lutheran University Outstanding Alum (2010) and Vancouver Award (Explorers Club Northwest Chapter – 2011)
* Former professional mountain guide/mountaineering instructor.
Interests
- Egyptian archaeology, Polynesian archaeology, history of exploration, ancient languages and scripts.