SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Uncovering the mysteries of ancient Egypt is not just an epic tale. It's the real life experience of legendary archaeologists.

William Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) is among the greatest. Known as the father of modern archaeology, he combed the tombs, temples and villages of Egypt for more than five decades.

For the first time in history, a portion of his extraordinary findings have come to the United States in "Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries from the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology." So far, the exhibit has traveled to such venues as the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University, the New Mexico Museum of Art and Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami.

The Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum at Cal State San Bernardino will host the Petrie collection starting Nov. 22. As the only venue on the West Coast for the exhibit, the show is also the Fullerton Art Museum's first international exhibition ever.

Running through Feb. 15, 2009, the exhibit will feature more than 220 objects portraying the daily life and burial of the ancient Egyptians. The world's earliest surviving dress (cir. 2800 B.C.), jewelry, mummy masks and royal art from King Akhenaten's palace city of Amarna are among the treasures included in the exhibit.

A reception for the exhibit will be held Nov. 22 in the museum from 5-7 p.m.

The Petrie Museum, at University College London, houses the most extensive collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world, outside of Egypt itself. With more than 80,000 objects, Petrie, the museum's namesake, excavated a large part of the collection himself, initiating the major archaeological movement at the turn of the 20th century.

"Excavating Egypt" is the first major exhibit to arrive at the Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum since its accreditation in March 2008. Of the more than 17,500 museums in the United States, the American Association of Museums has accredited only 4 percent.

The RVF Art Museum continues to offer the Inland Empire and its surrounding regions world-class art and culture. After showing at the RVF, "Excavating Egypt" travels to The University of Kentucky Art Museum and then back home to England.

The Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum is home to the largest display of ancient Egyptian antiquities west of the Mississippi River. Established in 1996, the RVF Art Museum has accumulated a collection of nearly 1,200 objects focusing on Egyptian antiquities, ceramics and contemporary art.

Admission for exhibits at the Fullerton Art Museum is free. Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Phone: (909) 537-7373.

The Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum will be dark through Sept. 24. It reopens Oct. 4 with original photographs by Andy Warhol, and two accompanying exhibits, "DIVAS: A Group Exhibition of Immodest Photography" and the artwork of new CSUSB faculty member Beth Steffel.

For more information on Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university's Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit http://news.csusb.edu.

--Cal State San Bernardino