Hypostyle Hall Project Current Staff

Dr. Peter J. Brand (Project Director)

Assistant professor of Ancient History and Egyptology at the University of Memphis. His doctoral dissertation at the University of Toronto, 1998, focused on the monuments of Seti I, including the Great Hypostyle Hall. His ongoing research interests include epigraphy, New Kingdom monumental architecture and Ramesside history. He served as Project epigraphist and artist 1994-2000 and became Project Director in 2001 after the death of the founding Director, Dr. William J. Murnane.

Lyla Brock (Staff Artist)

A longtime resident of Egypt and internationally recognized archaeological illustrator, Lyla has worked as an artist, epigraphist and archaeologist for many projects in Egypt and the Middle East including her own project in the tomb of Anen in the Theban Necropolis. She has worked with the Hypostyle Hall Project since 2000.

Louise Cooper (Epigraphist & Research Assistant)

A doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis, Louise has worked for the project as a student epigraphist and research assistant. Her doctoral dissertation will examine the administrative history of Egypt in the late Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period.

Mr. Fouzi and Mr. Abd-el-Satar (SCA Inspectors for Karnak Temple)

Our two most recent Inspectors from the Supreme Council of Antiquities have been Mr. Fouzi (2004-2005) and Mr. Abd-el-Sattar (1999, 2000, 2002). Both of them have long records of service with the SCA and have been a pleasure to work with.

Robert Griffin (Epigraphist & Research Assistant)

A doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis and an ordained minister, Robert's doctoral research focuses on the cults of Canaanite and Syrian deities in Egypt during the New Kingdom. He has also served as a research assistant for the Hypostyle Hall Project since 2002.

Dr. Janusz Karkowski (Senior Epigraphist)

During a long and distinguished career, Dr. Karkowski has served as head of the Polish Academy of Science's archaeological institute in Egypt and has worked at sites from Faras in Nubia to Alexandria. He is perhaps best known for his long association with the Polish mission at the temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari which he directed for many years. 

Dr. Suzanne Onstine (Epigraphist)

Dr. Onstine has worked with the Hypostyle Hall Project since 2002. She has also worked with the University of Arizona's expedition in the Valley of the Kings. Her doctoral dissertation (University of Toronto, 2000) focused on the role of the Shamayet, a class of women priestesses in Ancient Egypt. Her book on the subject has just been published by the British Museum Press.

Dr. Jean Revez (Epigraphist)

Dr. Revez has worked with the Project since 2002, but his association with Karnak dates back to the earlier 1990s when he worked with the Franco-Egyptian center in the temple. He has worked with other archaeological missions including the Univeristy of Toronto's expedition to Mendes in the Delta. His doctoral dissertation from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, focused on the role of the kings' brothers in Ancient Egypt. He is also affiliated with the Université Montréal's Research Group for Computer Aided Research in Architecture which is developing new methods for recording and modeling Karnak temple by means of digital technology.

Heather Sayre (Epigraphist & Research Assistant)

Heather is a Master's student at the University of Memphis and is currently researching her Master's thesis on the historiography of Amarna studies. Her other research interests include the military and diplomatic history of the Ramesside period in Egypt.

Saadi (Project Driver)

Saadi has served as the driver for the Karnak Hyposytle Hall Project and other American missions in the Luxor region for many years and is arguably the best driver in the world!