Ambitious archaeology
The German Archaeological Institute (DAI) fosters international exchange.
“Deep is the well of the past,” wrote Thomas Mann. As such, any investigation of history requires knowledgeable experts. These can be found at the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), which itself was founded as long as ago as 1829. Nowadays the network of international offices and research centres the DAI maintains extends from Madrid to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The discoveries made by the DAI Department in Cairo include, for example, the Shabti coffin of the high-ranking official Qen-Amun, which is made of faience and is around 3,500 years old (photograph).
DAI staff are networkers in the best sense. By uncovering the cultural heritage of other countries they support exchange as part of Germany’s foreign cultural and education policy. The DAI both promotes dialogue with international researchers and supports young researchers – so that the past has a future.
