October 5, 2009 - Mummification in ancient Egypt will be the focus of a community program featuring Robert Yohe, California State University, Bakersfield professor and director of the university's Laboratory of Archaeological Science. His presentation, titled "Early Christianity and Treatment of the Dead in Late Roman Egypt," will take place on Friday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Doré Theatre. Yohe's research on this topic has been featured on Discovery Channel's "The Bone Detective."

Yohe has recently returned from an excavation at the Tell El-Hibeh project in Egypt, where he serves as the associate director. He will share information about his research, and the discoveries he and CSUB students have made while working on the project.

"The practice of mummification persisted longer than previous thought," Yohe explained. "In fact, the project I've been working on shows that mummification was actually practiced by early Christians in Egypt."

The 60-minute talk is free and open to the public. Parking is $2.

Following the presentation, Yohe will be available in the Todd Madigan Gallery to discuss artifacts included in The Art of Death in Ancient Egypt exhibit. The exhibit runs through Nov. 8 and is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon - 7 p.m., and Fridays noon - 8 p.m.