Organic Preservation - a Petrie Museum Video

Originally published March 23, 2010 | UCLMuseums YouTube Channel | A short video documenting an intern's conservation efforts on some shabtis figures. If you frequent YouTube, perhaps you might subscribe to UCLMuseums' channel.

Forthcoming Egyptology Books

Accessed February 5, 2010 | Blackwell Bookshop Online | Here's a list of some books that will be released and sold very soon. So, if you're like me and want to buy new publications for your personal library, follow the link and get to shopping. Upcoming publications include titles like Money in Ptolemaic Egypt, Preserving Egypt's Cultural Heritage, Ancient Egyptian Art, and The Legacy of Egyptian Mythology. A head's up, the prices listed at the e-commerce site are in English pounds.

Valley of The Kings Tombs Endangered By Fracture Zones

Originally published October 19, 2009 | redOrbit

The following is an excerpt from Yahoo! News, another source reporting on the same news story:

A trick used by ancient Egyptians to exploit cracks in Earth to make tomb-digging easier has come back to haunt the Valley of the Kings, new evidence suggests.

While the natural fractures were followed to carve out burial sites, several instances show, rare heavy rainfall events can flood the tombs. Archaeologists are racing to map and photograph the tombs to better preserve their contents and figure out ways to divert the rain.

Another source reporting on the same story can be found at United Press International

Drilling Under the Sphinx

Originally published October 15, 2009 | Heritage Key | by Keith Payne

This entertaining article explores all corners of the fairly recent hydrological work being performed on the Great Sphinx to nip in the bud any possible future water damage to the ancient (and don't forget mysterious!) monument. A video accompanies the information, which also gives lip service to Hawass and Lehner's conclusion that there aren't any subterranean chambers hidden under the Sphinx. Argh! Thanks for ruining it for all the day dreamers :P

The following is an article at Zahi Hawass' Blog of his and Lehner's work at the Giza Necropolis.

Egypt to Combat Emissions With Solar Power

Originally published September 29, 2009 | Mena Infrastructure | by Timon Singh

Cultural Exchange with the USA

Originally published September 15, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

The following is an excerpt from Zahi Hawass' Blog; click on the above link to read his blog post in its entirety:

I think these study trips are very important for the young people of Egypt. It is important for them to travel abroad and befriend diverse people; it opens their minds to have international friends and increases their knowledge of the outside world. I can see how much Rania has changed; she has applied what she learned on the study tour to her work here, and I can see that she will have a very bright future. Helen and I talked about how we will send more young Egyptians for training in the future, and it is my hope that we will continue to work with the American people to promote cultural exchange through these study trips.

Dr. Hawass also talks about his meeting with President Obama and the pictures taken during that time and his hopes that he will inspire people to donate to the Childrens Museum in Cairo so that it will thrive.

Picture - Groundwater Testing Under the Great Sphinx

Originally published September 10, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog | photo credited to Sandro Vannini

A team at Giza drills to test groundwater levels underneath the Sphinx. In 2008, a project was initiated to protect the Sphinx from the rising water table in the area.

"Closed" Sign Coming Soon to King Tut's Tomb

Originally published August 19, 2009 | USA Today | by John Bacon

The following is an excerpt from USA Today, regarding more on the latest news about the possibility of the Valley of the Kings being closed off to tourists wanting to visit the tombs. Dr. Hawass if certainly faced with a double-edged sword, a predicament that shouldn't come without massive consideration: either you close off the KV tombs and create a museum filled with replicas and decrease the touristic population (I can see a replica tomb here in Chicago) or close off the KV tombs to tourists temporarily (and still decrease revenue from tourism, be it temporarily) and open them when proper technology has been implemented within each tomb so that the delicate contents within and tourists can peacefully coexist. I wouldn't mind waiting for proper technological implementation, as the former option (one Hawass has proposed) would really kill revenue for Egypt. Like I said before, I can see a replica here in the states; although, I suppose the addition of the Egyptian culture while seeing these replicas would make a better experience.

If you're interested in visiting the tombs of pharaohs in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, better schedule your trip soon.

[...]

"A team of experts is currently using laser technology to examine these tombs in order to build the replicas ... which would then open to visitors in a place near the Valley of the Kings," Hawass said.

Egyptian Expert Submits Report on Mummy

Originally published August 18, 2009 | The Times of India

The following is an excerpt from an article from the Times of India:

The head of the research department, supreme council of antiquities, Egypt Tarek El Awady on Monday presented his report to the government on preservation of the Egyptian mummy, which was stored in the state museum and deteriorating because of mismanagement.

Most of this should be common sense in terms of the preservation of mummies and observing them in museums. I'd also add: no leaning on glass cases. In addition, $20,000 is hardly asking for much for preservation (unless that's per mummy on display; even then, I'm sure there are plenty of people with the same passion as I who would lend a helping hand in donating to the cause).

Egyptian Expert in Hyderabad to Restore Mummy

Originally published August 13, 2009 | The Times of India

The following is an excerpt from the Times of India; click the above link to read the story in its entirety:

Tarek el Awady, director of Scientific Research in Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), arrived Wednesday night on a six-day visit to restore the mummy, dating back to 2500 BC, but which is showing signs of decay now.

SCA is a part of the Egyptian ministry of culture and responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt. El Awady is also the general supervisor of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

Egyptians Pay Tribute to Pyramids

Originally published August 12, 2009 | CCTV | edited by Zhao Yanchen

Recently, over 400 Egyptian youths traveled to the Giza Necropolis to campaign for the preservation of Egypt's most magnificent structure: the pyramids.

The Cultural Ministry of Egypt organized the effort to encourage the younger people to learn more about Egypt's ancient history and to raise the public's awareness of the need to preserve it's monuments.

Government, Camel Operators Grapple Over Giza Access

Originally published August 2, 2009 | The Boston Globe | by Nick Mendez and Emily Williams

Sed Ali dug his heels into the hindquarters of a small, gray, Arabian-style horse, weaving through a pack of dilapidated camels as he trotted across the sand. Ali was giving our group of Northeastern University students a guided tour of the great pyramids in Giza, a family business he has been a part of since he was 6.

Before we set out, Ali asked that we send the Egyptian government letters praising his business. He is concerned that the government’s modernization efforts at the historic site will mean the end for the independent camel operators who depend on the pyramids.

The Tomb of Haremhab Reopens

Originally published August 5, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Tricked out with new state-of-the-art technology to prevent further damage, Horemhab's tomb is once more open for public viewing (and has the priviledge of being the only tomb in the Valley of the Kings with this technology; the only down side is that it will play guinea pig for the other KV tombs).

Saving the West Bank Temples in Luxor

Originally published June 25, 2009 | Luxor News Blog | by Jane Akshar

Work is being done near Luxor to save Egyptians structures such as Medinet Habu, Seti I's temple, the Ramesseum, and Karnak and Luxor temples due to the Awan Dam's causing the rise in the water table of the Nile River. Some success has been achieved and efforts elsewhere are being performs to save these ancient monuments. Pictures accompany the blog post.

Saving the Serapeum

Originally published June 25, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | Dr. Hawass

Zahi Hawass writes about the Serapeum, about the importance of the Saqqara plateau and the key figures who had a hand in its development; it's role in past and recent-present history, spanning from Strabo to Auguste Mariette; and his attempts to find a solution to preserving and protecting this unique monument, which has been closed to visitors for safety reasons, asking for every authoritative person's advice. He describes the Serapeum's current state and how he's keeping a loving and watchful eye on this mysterious place.

Featured in the post are beautiful pictures showcasing the support and ventilation systems that are meant to help preserve and stabilize the Serapeum.

A Trip to Sharkiya

Origianlly published May 20, 2009 | Dr. Zahi Hawass' Blog
Learn about the current and prospective projects set forth by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) to turn Tell Basta (Bubastis), Tell El-Dab'a (Avaris), and San El-Hagar (Tanis) into "outstanding tourist destinations while [...] preserving and protecting them for the future." In addition, Dr. Zahi Hawass introduces a new tourist program that introduces people to the Sharkiya region and the three capital cities mentioned above. He also describes a school located in this region where Egyptian boys and girls can persue a training program and advanced courses in conservation techniques for many types of materials.