This passage discusses the connections between Ancient Egypt and modern conservation efforts focused on birds of prey, or raptors. It highlights how early archaeologists and collectors contributed to the understanding of Ancient Egyptian culture through the removal of cultural artifacts.
The Raptors Unwrapped project, guided by an advisory team, aims to study both historical and modern raptor specimens. The project intends to share its findings with Egyptian researchers and is particularly interested in the significance of raptors in Ancient Egyptian society, noting their frequent representation in art and hieroglyphs.
Unlike other birds, there is no evidence to suggest that raptors were hunted or kept for food in Ancient Egypt, raising intriguing questions about their use in mummification processes. The Raptors Unwrapped team is investigating the diets and origins of these mummified birds by analyzing chemicals in their feathers. Their research hypotheses include the idea that industrialization caused raptors to be sourced from further away and that captive birds had more restricted diets than their wild counterparts. They are also exploring whether the decline in raptor populations was due to over-exploitation.
