SCA News - March 2001
Reported by Naglaa Habib El Zahlawi
CONTENTS: Enlargement of the Ram Path / Three Sites to be Open in Luxor / Additional Preservation Measures in Luxor Temple / Distinguished Scholar Award Granted to Zahi Hawass / Birds Necropolis Newly Found in Abydos / Moshey Dayan Series to be Displayed Soon / SCA Conservation Project/ Cleopatra Expedition Move to London
An agreement has been set between Farouk Hosni, Minister of Culture and Mahmoud Khalaf, Head of the Supreme Council of Luxor City regarding the Rams’ Path extending once between El Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. The decision taken is to enlarge the street to reach 76m large. An enclosure wall is prospected to safeguard the area from any possible misuse and to define the limits between the monuments and the agricultural land. Accordingly the street will be enlarged 20m from both sides of the actual road. As announced by Mr. Hosni, houses surrounding the path will be removed and the inhabitants compensated in order to preserve our precious heritage and guarantee a good life to the damaged population.
Three Sites to be opened in Luxor
High ranked SCA officials closely supervised final touches in three major sites in Luxor, in order to reopen them for visits. The third story in Hatchepsut Temple has been restored conjunctively by the Polish/SCA staff; 40 years of constant work have been fructuous and visitors will be finally able to admire unrevealed parts of this unequivalent temple.
Restoration measures taken in Merenptah Temple had lasted ten years as the Swiss/SCA efforts there focused on precise restoration of the architectural elements of the temple. Hor Moheb Tomb, 18th Dynasty has been prepared for visit as the floor, recently restored will accomplish the final touches.
Additional preservation measures,
Luxor Temple
Water had invaded the western side of Luxor Temple as a result to a break occurred in the sewage system. A 30-cm pipeline fixed next to the Temple’s façade prevented the visitors from using the western entrance door. SCA Secretary General together with the Minister of Culture concentrated their efforts to clear the situation and safeguard the precious monument. Gravel was removed and the bared floor was left exposed to aeration; new dry gravel will cover the ground later.
An enclosure in stone was built around the temple ½ m high to support the grille. The eastern door facilitated the access to the inside and visitors were able to admire the inner monuments of the Temple.
“Distinguished Scholar” Reward
granted to Zahi Hawass
Egyptian Scholars association in USA and Canada offered a crystal Obelisk to Dr. Zahi Hawass as a prize for his efforts in Archaeological domain. Dr. Zahi is the “Distinguished Scholar” of the year 2000 in appreciation for his important discoveries and archaeological researches as well as his publications.
A celebration was specially held for the occasion in the Diplomatic Club, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Birds’ Necropolis newly found in Abydos
An SCA excavation in Abydos reveals a Sacred Necropolis specified for Birds mainly the Falcon, symbol of Horus, the famous deity and Osiris son. Located in Suhag, Abydos as a city had a great importance during the consecutive Pharaonic eras. A depression occurred in the ground level that led the SCA personnel working in the area to practice a sondage. Excavations started immediately and important architectural elements came out of the ground. Huge pottery vessels were unearthed including mummified falcons. Eight limestone sarcophagi were found with en relief inscriptions over the lid and including mummies 10 cm long. Studies started immediately after this important discovery to add more information to our stock of historical events.
Moshey Dayan Series to be displayed soon
Twenty thousand objects unearthed out of 35 archaeological sites in North and South Sinai will be subject to visitor’s admiration when Farouk Hosni will open the new display hall specially built for this purpose in El Kantara Shark. These monuments, known as Moshey Dayan Series represent the group of objects Israeli troops collected and returned back to Egypt recently. They represent stelae in limestone referred to the Graeco-Roman Period where one could clearly see the name, profession and age of the deceased, El Khouainat, South El Arish is the area where were located the stelae.
Accesses to the Pyramid area are part of a conservation project undertaken by SCA employees; the area will be accessible through three major entrances:
El Fayum considered the main entrance to visitors and tourists wishing to admire or study the monuments.
El Haram Street (The Pyramids) entrance is exclusive to the personnel acting in the area whether SCA staff members, Tourist Police or Official Visits.
The Sphinx entrance is specified for the Sound and Light audience.
Special Places for camels and horses were prepared and a specific route was designed for these animals in order to preserve the monuments from any possible damage or misuse. Eight panoramic points were designed for those who wish to admire the pyramids or the sites where excavations are taking place.The project costs reached 30 million EGL approximately, 10 Km is the enclosure area to safeguard and preserve the monuments.
Cleopatra exhibition moved to London
The exhibition previously held in Italy is actually displaying Cleopatra’s important relics in London Museum up to the 25th February 2001. An exquisite marble head is one of the many statues representing various phases of Cleopatra’s reign in Egypt.