As an archaeologist and history lover, I have always felt at home in museums and The British Museum in London was no exception. As I fought my way through the crowds I felt the excitement growing. I was under the same roof as the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and so many other exciting pieces of material culture. I had grown up reading about these artifacts and I could barely believe that I was in the same building with them. The short list of highlights in the museum is the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, the Medieval England exhibit, and the entire Egyptian section.
I made my way through the Medieval England section, turned the corner and I was looking right at one of my favorite mummies. The Lindow man was right there in a plexiglass box. My heart skipped a beat as I approached with my camera raised. I read all of the information available and didn’t want to move on but I knew there was so much more I wanted to see.
I made my way through the tourists in the Egyptian section and finally reached the mummy room. I was so excited. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by the process of mummification and the Egyptian view of life after death. As I made my way through the exhibit I admired the artifacts on display. After being somewhat pushed out of the room by groups of tourists, I decided to find the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin Marbles. When I finally did, I didn’t want to leave. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was standing in front of these pieces of history that I had read about my entire life. I could have spent days in that museum and it was an experience that I will always remember.
Jessica Goon