For the first time since the 25 January Revolution, Egyptian archaeologists have met to discuss new archaeological theories, research and studies, Nevine El-Aref was at the conference The eighth Scientific Seminar for Archaeologists has finally been held at the premises of the Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) following a six-month hiatus since the 25 January Revolution. Life may be returning to normal in the antiquities department: when it was the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the MSA organised regular archaeological seminars on ancient Egyptian, Graeco-Roman, Islamic and Coptic antiquities, as well as restoration techniques and museums technology. Because of the revolution, however, and the chaos during and after it which allowed for the looting of some archaeological sites and several of the artefacts of the priceless collection in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, the MSA put a halt to all its activities, among them the periodical archaeological seminars. Last week, the MSA organised the eighth archaeological seminar and the first since the revolution to discuss the recent archaeological studies, restoration and development work being achieved as well as new discoveries at archaeological sites. The seminar presented 60 papers on archaeological research on ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic monuments, as well as the recent fine restoration techniques used to restore reliefs, paintings and decorations in mosques, and museums. On the fringe of the seminar, a special session was held to display those artefacts that went missing from the Egyptian Museum during the revolution and have since been recovered. The restorers of these objects gave a presentation to show the techniques they used to repair those objects that were damaged. "It was really a significant event for two reasons," said Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, general supervisor of the office of the minister of state for antiquities. Maqsoud explained that although the conference was a periodical event, this was not only the first since the revolution but the first to bring a broad range of specialists together. In previous years there had been separate meetings for distinct archaeological specialisations: ancient Egyptian, Islamic, Coptic, Greek and Roman, and site and museum restoration. Papers representing the attempts to loot archaeological sites in Egypt, as well as the failed attempt to steal a statue of Senusert III in the upper Egyptian city of Ehnasia, were also introduced. Up-to-date methodological research on human bones and pottery analysis were also among the papers presented. What insights can be gained from understanding the type of clay used and methods of production, for example? Restoration work and architectural considerations form a further integral part of recent research. To name just a few, the papers ranged from considering development plans for the Behbeit Al-Hagar temple to fresh restoration work at the Step Pyramid in Saqqara, the Monastery of St Anthony on the Red Sea coast and the Synagogue of Moses Ben Maimon in Cairo. Other studies concerned the architectural elements at the front entrance of the Mosque of Mohamed Ali in the Salaheddin Citadel in Cairo, and the impact of torrential rain on Egyptian architecture through the ages. Hisham El-Leithi, the seminar's commissar, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the event was unique and important for Egyptian archaeologists since it was an opportunity to meet and learn from one another and discuss new means of development and historical issues, as well as to form associations that might lead to more collaborative work. Zahi Hawass, minister of state for antiquities, said he was particularly impressed by the quality of research assembled before the committee in advance of the conference. He said it was clear that there had been a huge leap in scientific publications at the MSA since 2003. "I am also proud to see young, empowered Egyptian archaeologists collaborating with specialists from abroad in international relations based on mutual respect," Hawass said. Among the papers that attracted the most attention were those revealing new discoveries at various archaeological sites in Egypt. At Tel Al-Dafna in the Suez Canal town of Isamilia, where a 26th-Dynasty military fortress was discovered by Flinders Petrie in 1886, the MSA excavation mission came upon a large temple comprising three halls enclosed by a mud- brick wall that ran from north to south and was 13 metres in width. On the east side of the temple, the mission located 15 rectangular storehouses separated from the temple by a two-metre wide street. A large house with eight rooms was found at the temple's north-east side. A number of workshops for smelting copper was also found, along with a large number of bread ovens , both small and large. Mustafa Nourreddin, inspector of Isamailia antiquities, said this discovery suggested that the Tel Al-Dafna site was a strategic centre for bronze manufacture in the 26th Dynasty through to the Persian era. In the Upper Egyptian city of Ehnasia, coincidence played a major role in discovering a huge headless colossal of the 12th-Dynasty king Senusert III. Following the chaos of the revolution and the absence of police security, thieves broke into the Ehnasia archaeological site and illicitly excavated an area of sand. They were spotted by archaeological guards who tried to catch them red-handed, but unfortunately the thieves got away. However, they had succeeded in uncovering part of a colossal sandstone statue. Brushing off the sand, excavators unearthed a two-metre-tall seated, headless statue that bore the cartouches of three kings, Senusert III, Ramses II and Meneptah. Studies on the statue confirmed that it was made for Senusert III and reused by both Ramses II and Meneptah in the 19th Dynasty. Neighbouring the site, archaeologists located a Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the worship of Amun. Investigations proved that the builders used several ancient blocks from the Middle and New Kingdoms in the construction, since the cartouches of Senusert III and Ramesses II are engraved on the blocks, as well as reliefs depicting both kings in various positions with their families and ancient Egyptian deities. Examination of the blocks, said Ahmed Galal, head of the excavations, revealed that they were previously used in the construction of a temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor. A number of amphorae, lamps and seals from the Roman period were also found. Excavations carried out in the area on the west bank at Luxor where the old Gourna houses were located revealed new discoveries, among them a large number of mummies, clay vessels and painted tombs decorated with parts of the Book of the Dead. The tombs are small, composed of two halls and a long ramp that was filled with mummies. The most distinguished of these tombs, according to archaeologist Sayed Marei, was in the Gournet Mayi necropolis where a tomb of a high priest of the temple of Montu was found. The tomb was located five metres beneath the sand and icontained a large horizontal hall and another vertical hall decorated with religious paintings. On the Avenue of the Sphinxes excavators unearthed several Islamic and Coptic objects, among them the lintel of Athe Kashkash mosque and the remains of a fifth-century church built with blocks dating from the Ptolemaic era. A sandstone Nilometre which, according to Abdel-Gawad Abdel-Fatah , most probably dates from the Coptic era, was also found in this location. This Nilometre, used for measuring the height of the annual flood, is cylindrical and has a spiral staircase. Two oil grinds were also found, as well as a pillars and domes dating from different periods.
