Prepared by Mohamed Sakr And Presented by Naglaa El Zahlawi
SCA Egyptology Department has a great responsibility towards our cultural heritage ranging from restoring, preserving and conserving these monuments. In this respect routine restorations measures are regularly taken in order to achieve this goal. The latest efforts shown to serve this purpose in Cairo are focusing over Ein Shams area and El Matareya where excavations, concentrated around Own Fort (Heliopolis), revealed pottery, ostracas, columns crowns, few amulets and Ushabti statues. The Western side of Ein Shams and Arab El Hesn excavations were also positive as pottery, Ushabti statues and amulets were discovered there while the Eastern side revealed a mud brick wall.
El Giza area around the pyramids, three tombs were subject to development and preservations, they were set for visits re their importance Dew-n-Re, Neter-ba-Ptah, and Em-Re. Bahareya Oasis considered as a virgin area yet untouched and has a lot to reveal, has been partly explored in El Bawity. Excavations there revealed the external wall of Hercules' temple erected in mud bricks. El Bawity, the capital of the Oasis is actually considered as an important trade center. A carved tomb, incised in a sandy rock was also discovered, it consists of a profound well where stairs lead to the burial place. Excavations practiced in Kom El Sheikh Hamad in the Oasis unearthed the substructure of a Temple referred to the Roman period.
Work achieved in Sakkara around Her-ef-nebt-ef tomb unearthed a passage carved inside the rocks of the place while Sebshem-nefer tomb, 6th Dynasty was discovered together with a passage located north the tomb. The passage includes six chambers. North Sinai excavations are promising as in the western side of El Farama (Pelusium), the remains of the architectural elements of El Hammam were uncovered, El Hammam is a public bath. Another Hammam in Tell El Luli was revealed with its architectural elements and the drainage system was uncovered.
Tell Athar El Set in Sheikh Zewayed revealed a wall with the remains of stoves for bread backing, few rooms and bronze coins referred to the Roman Period. In Abu Zneima, south Sinai excavations are actually taking place in Oyoun Moussa and Ras Messalah. El Gharbiah Governorate has been subject to an elaborate activity as sondage work is applied in El Rabwa area, Dayer El Nahya and El Bereigua. SCA excavations in El Dakahlia Governorate and Damietta unearthed pottery and bronze coins in various places namely Meit Yaeish, El Mekdam, Tell El Emdid, Tells Abou Guerida (Faraskour). Beads, a pottery vessel and amulets were found in Tell Tebla around mud brick walls part of tombs. Tell El Rubee witnessed important activity that led to the discovery of an Old Kingdom Temple together with other objects to be listed. Objects that belong to pre dynastic eras were located in Tell Ghazala. Excavations in Marsa Matrouh area specifically in Om El Rakham led to important discoveries. El Fayum, Tameya revealed mud brick walls referred to the Roman Period and Om El Brigat revealed pottery vessels and few coins.
Sondage has been practiced in Suhag, Upper Egypt in both El Mahasna and Nagee El Deir. SCA activities are on as the Egyptian soil includes so many evidences to trace details of great significance related to our universal history.