Archaeologists criticize Egyptian Pyramid restoration project
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A new project to restore one of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt has triggered archaeologists and social media users.
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An Egyptian policeman walks near a pyramid in Giza, Egypt, on Nov. 9, 2015. (AP)
As the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiques announced the Mekaure pyramid project in Giza, archeologists and social media users were distressed, describing this initiative as "a sad disaster" while comparing it to the straightening of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
In a video on January 25, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced the Menkaure Pyramid project, a three-year project to restore the facade of a pyramid, which previously had 16 layers of granite, by using granite blocks lying at its base. He stated that this is a joint project with the Japanese government and Japanese Egyptologist Sakuji Yoshimura, who attempted to build a pyramid in 1979 but failed. It will begin with a study of the stone blocks, moving to laser scanning and then the reinstalling of the outer cladding.
Egyptologist: Project tampers with Egyptian history
Monica Hanna, a celebrated Egyptologist, posted a statement on Facebook denouncing the project. According to Hanna, the idea that the granite blocks at the base of the pyramid were fragments that had fallen does not justify this project. As these fragments are not polished, Monica suspects they were likely left behind by the pyramid’s workmen.
It is important to note that some of the blocks missing from the pyramid were once used by King Ramses II to make statues and reliefs. Over the centuries, the pyramid’s other granite blocks were used to construct buildings, arsenals, and infrastructure.
“The disagreement is more than methodology or application, but rather about the fundamental principles and axioms of archaeological work,” she added.
She believes the project “is tantamount to tampering with Egyptian antiquities and undermining its antiquity and history,” emphasizing that one of its consequences is the potential displacement of the necropolis of Memphis, as it contains the pyramids plateau and is on the World Heritage list.
Mohamed Al-Saidi, a member of the Menkaure Pyramid project team, stated in a video that the idea for the project has long been in progress but the issue was the cost. He believes that many scientific discoveries could be a result of this project refuting accusations that authorities have not considered the scientific method or its academic value in doing this project.
“We as a project officially have a plan, putting all of our goals, plans, and stages in the spotlight presented to the technical committees,” he stated.
The head of the team, Nour Badr, who documented the stones with a 3D laser, stated in another video that the team used Japanese technology to create a digital model of the pyramid and the purported fallen stone blocks of the pyramid.
“We are using and reassembling the actual blocks that fell to the ground from the pyramid itself,” Badr announced. “It’s being said that we’re putting in new things. Do we use materials? We use international restoration materials that have standardized specifications approved by international committees for restoration and assembly work.”
