Joyce Tyldesley

Joyce Tyldesley has established herself as a leading Egyptologist, transitioning from early archaeological fieldwork to a distinguished academic career and prolific authorship. After earning a first-class honours degree in archaeology from the University of Liverpool in 1981, specializing in the Eastern Mediterranean, Joyce Tyldesley went on to establish herself as a leading Egyptologist. She furthered her academic career at the University of Oxford, where she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree in Paleolithic archaeology in 1986 for her thesis on Mousterian bifaces in Northern Europe. Tyldesley began her professional journey with a lecturing position in Prehistoric Archaeology at Liverpool, quickly transitioning to a distinguished role as a freelance Egyptologist, author, and broadcaster.

Additionally, she developed free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), such as ‘Mumford the Mummy’ for primary school children, in collaboration with the Manchester Museum. A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2017 and a Research Associate of the Manchester Museum, Tyldesley also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton in 2011 and saw The Lost Scroll premiere at Kendal Museum the same year. Tyldesley is a prolific author of numerous highly acclaimed books and articles on ancient Egypt, many of which have served as tie-ins for major television series. Her book, Cleopatra, Last Queen of Egypt, was featured as a BBC Radio 4 ‘Book of the Week’ in 2008.

Nicky Nielsen, and Tutankhamun: Pharaoh, Icon, Enigma (2022). In recognition of her profound services to Egyptology and heritage, Joyce Tyldesley was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours, further solidifying her impact on both academic scholarship and public engagement with ancient Egyptian history.