Reuben Hutchinson-Wong

Reuben Hutchinson-Wong

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology
Doctoral Researcher

Contact details

Qualifications

  • Master of Arts in Ancient History (Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History (Honours) (Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland)
  • Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Geography (Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland)

Biography

I completed my Master of Arts in Ancient History in 2019 at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. My master’s thesis examined the formation of an ancient Egyptian cemetery, Qubbet el-Hawa, near Aswan in southern Egypt to understanding local creation of and engagement with landscape, identity, and memory.

I previously completed my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Ancient History and Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Geography from the same university, 2017 and 2014–2016, respectively. During my earlier studies, I completed projects examining the development colonial New Zealand cemeteries in Whangārei and Auckland, and a dissertation exploring the titularies of royal women from the Early Dynastic Period to end of the Old Kingdom. As part of scholarships, I also undertook research into metaphor, metonymy, and synecdoche in ancient Egyptian literature and how elite private schools in present-day New Zealand advertised their enrolment opportunities.

I have worked as a graduate teaching assistant teaching techniques required to be an ancient historian and have experience in developing student-centric support online and in-person.

Teaching

  • 2018-2019: Tutor, Department of Classics and Ancient History, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland- 100-level course: Dynasties, Democracy, Empire
  • 2016-2018: Senior Mentor for MATES Programme (Great Potentials Foundation)

Doctoral research

PhD title
Alteration to existing mortuary spaces and additional burials during the Old Kingdom through early Middle Kingdom (c.2686–c.1991 BCE).
Supervisor
Dr Leire Olabarria

Research

This project examines the practice of adding additional burials into existing mortuary spaces during the Egyptian Old through Early Middle Kingdoms (c.2686–c.1991 BCE) to understand how the ancient Egyptians engaged with physical space to create a sense of ‘place.’

The project specifically uses alterations to mortuary space as a medium to explore ancient Egyptian engagements with these spaces.

Alteration broadly refers to changes that are done to the original, physical burial space. For example, changes made to accommodate new burials, like decorative/textual changes and the addition of burial shafts, are an example of alteration.

Using an original, interdisciplinary framework, my thesis explores how and why additional burials were integrated into existing mortuary spaces. My thesis also redresses and reframes prevailing colonial narratives regarding these alterations in modern academic discourse.

Most studies of additional burial generally categorise these additional burials as ‘intrusive’ or ‘secondary.’ A close analysis of Egyptian engagement with these spaces, however, shows that these burials were considered integral to the continuation of individual mortuary cults.

Redressing colonial interpretations critically reframes additional burials in scholarship to show that these burials are not inherently bad as often described.

Other activities

  • Member of New Zealand Egyptology Society (2022–)
  • Member of Birmingham Egyptology (2023-)
  • Researcher for History of Egypt podcast, (2021–), specialising in Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period

Conferences papers:

  • ‘Let’s lay the foundation: geomentality in ancient Egypt,’ Current Research in Egyptology 23, University of Basel, Basel, 10–14 September 2023
  • ‘We all say it’s prominent, but what does Qubbet el-Hawa’s placement tell us about its origins?’ Australasian Egyptology Conference 6, Macquarie University, Sydney, 9–12 June 2022
  • ‘Location, location, location: a look at Qubbet el-Hawa’s regional placement in landscape’ at Department of Classics and Ancient History’s Day of Papers, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland.
  • ‘Organising Old Kingdom bodies: a spatial consideration of the Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis near Aswan, to discuss memory, identity, and landscape’ at Australasian Egyptology Conference 5, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland, 7–9 September 2018
  • ‘Organising Old Kingdom bodies: a spatial consideration of the Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis near Aswan, to discuss memory, identity, and landscape’ at AMPHORAE XII, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, Auckland, 4–6 July 2018 (poster)