Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

OBITUARIES


Joanna Aksamit
(1958-2008)

Dr. Joanna Aksamit was Professor Jadwiga Lipinska’s favorite student, yet she preceded her mentor by a
year, losing a long battle with the same illness that overcame her teacher. She gave us unceasing lesson of
steadfastness and courage in the face of inevitable death.
Her death was greatly premature — so many tasks left unfinished, so many plans unrealized... all of
which she approached with the incessant curiosity and conscientiousness of a researcher. Her criticalframe
ofmind allowed no errors and imperfections to pass, hence her great talents as a revieiver of books, articles
and all forms of scientific research. Her own work was also stamped with the same high level of
professionalism.
Joanna Aksamit studied Mediterranean archaeology at the University of Warsaw, which she
completed in 1982, andfrom 1983 she ivas already a member of the Polish archaeological mission to the
Temple ofTuthmosis III at Deir el-Bahari, directed by Prof. Jadwiga Lipmska. Nonetheless, her first and
likely the biggest love being Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt, she also participated in the research of
the German expedition working at Minshat Abu Omar. Her doctoral dissertation, written under the

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007