Antiquity News from Egypt, June 2009

Egyptian archeologists uncover pre-historic monuments in Fayyoum - The Egyptian archeological mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) unearthed a huge group of fishing and sewing tools and jewelry made of animal bones north of Lake Qaroun in Fayyoum governorate.

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In statements on Tuesday 12/5/2009, Culture Minister Farouq Hosni said that the mission also discovered a number of caves and shelters used by Prehistoric man.

SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawwas said that the preliminary studies conducted by the mission
showed that this archaeological site was not used only by Prehistoric man but it was used throughout the various historical eras till the Islamic era.

July 26 marks uncovering one of biggest secrets of Khufu Pyramid
July 26 will mark the uncovering of one of the biggest secrets of the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza.

Addressing a symposium held within the framework of the Turin International Book Fair, he said the SCA will undertake another experiment involving getting a robot made by a group of scientists at the Universities of Hong Kong and Manchester into the pyramid to uncover the mystery shrouding the third gate of one of the pyramid’s corridors. This gate is expected to lead to the room where King Khufu is buried.

The Great Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three Giza pyramids and is the only remaining member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for
Fourth dynasty Egyptian King Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20 year period concluding around 2560 BC.

The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years..

There have been varying scientific and alternative theories regarding the Great Pyramid’s construction techniques. Most accepted construction theories are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

Pharaonic tomb of 2nd Dynasty era in Lahoun rocks
Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, said that the mission of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in el-lahoun in Fayyoum headed by Dr. Abd el-Rahman el-Aydi discovered an important archeological find. The mission discovered a cemetery includes full funeral furniture in good condition for the 2nd Pharaonic Dynasty era. The cemetery was carved in the rocks.

He pointed out that the discovered tomb is a three-meter-deep well and a half meter stair that leads to the burial chamber. A wooden coffin for the owner of the cemetery was found where the body was covered with linen sheets and near the coffin the funeral furniture was found.

This discovery is a great scientific and archaeological achievement that will re-draft the history of the region.

Rare statue of marble discovered in Alexandria
Calliope Papacosta discovered a rare statue made of white marble in Alexandria.

The 80 cm long, 23 cm wide statue has been discovered eight meters deep under the earth surface, Hawwas said.

A ribbon around the head of the statue proves that it belongs to an important person for such ribbon was used only be rulers, Hawwas added.

The facial features of the statue are much similar to that of Alexander the Great especially the nose and hair style, he said.

Culture Minister: 132 archaeological sites in Egypt not excavated
Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said that the researches conducted via satellites have confirmed the existence of 132 archaeological sites in Egypt that witnessed no excavations until now.

Farouk Hosni said Egypt’s shows full cooperation with the research teams to explore the archaeological sites, and has recently issued a number of laws seeking to stop the illegal digging in areas likely to contain the buried monuments. He is pointing out that project of monuments photography via satellite is being implemented in collaboration with the National Authority for Remote Sensing, Space Sciences and Mubarak City for Scientific Research for the aerial photography and ground laser.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Supreme
Council of Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawas pointed out that satellites took photos for many archeological sites including Habu city.

Egypt Retrieves 454 Ancient Artifacts From Myers Museum
Egyptian authorities have recovered 454 ancient Egyptian artifacts, including pharaonic pottery and bronze coins, from the U.K.’s Myers Museum. They had been removed from the country more than 30 years ago.

The items included 12 bronze coins, four scarabs, 94 beaded necklaces, 99 fragments of pottery with colored drawings and 109 funerary figures, 60 pieces of pharaonic fabrics, 4 pottery pieces and pottery & stones statues.

Dr. Hawass , secretary -general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the pieces belonged to the family of Ron Davey who offered them to the museum.

The recovered artifacts were taken out of the country between 1972 and 1988 after Unesco banned antiquities trafficking in 1970. Since 2002, Egypt has recovered some 5,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts that were taken out of the country.

June 9, 2009   Posted in: Egypt