FOLLOWING a nine-month break, the Supreme Council of Antiquities is to resume restoration of the Djoser Step Pyramid early next week, Nevine El-Aref reports. At Saqqara necropolis, where the oldest pyramid in history is located, archaeologists and workers are putting the Djoser Step Pyramid in intensive care. Restoration work will be resumed to rescue and preserve the pyramid's inner chamber. Restoration work was put on hold the last nine months following the January Revolution and the drastic decrease in tourism to Egypt, during which revenues of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) reached its lowest level ever, resulting in its budget having to be cut. This led to a freeze in all development and restoration works in progress, among them the structural repair and reinforcement of the inner chambers of Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara. Two weeks ago, the SCA succeeded in providing LE3 million from the revenues of tickets purchased at archaeological sites and museums to resume the restoration work at the oldest ever pyramid in history. Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, secretary-general of the SCA, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the budget was sufficient to rescue the inner chamber of the pyramid which is the only threat to the Step Pyramid's structure. According to the report of the inspection committee tasked three weeks ago with checking on the condition of the pyramid, Abdel-Fattah said the pyramid was in a good structural condition and the inner chamber was the only threat. "After restoring the inner chamber, the Step Pyramid will be safe and sound," Abdel-Fattah asserted, adding that restoration work will be put on hold, again because of budget restraints, but an archaeological and architectural unit will be established at the footsteps of the Step Pyramid to monitor and record its structural state minute by minute until more funds come in to continue the other phases of restoration. Abdel-Fattah pointed out that the deterioration of the pyramid was due to climatic effects, environmental erosion factors and the leakage of subterranean water, not to mention the 1992 earthquake. The restoration plan includes consolidating the pyramid's underground tunnels, monitoring the cracks, restoring the wall decorations and inspecting the natural ventilation inside the pyramid and the southern tomb. A year ago a structural repair and reinforcement system was put into practice. This involved temporary structural support in preparation for more permanent reinforced steel rods to be inserted diagonally through the steps of the pyramid, knitting together the six levels. The Step Pyramid was designed by the architect Imhotep to hold the mummy of the Third-Dynasty King Djoser and preserve it for eternity. At the time of its completion the Step Pyramid was the largest building ever constructed, demonstrating a sophisticated and dramatic leap in architectural size and style. "The preservation of Egypt's monuments is the SCA's top priority," asserted Abdel-Fattah. "We will work hard to provide the financial resources despite the economic circumstances we are facing," he added. "We do not want the world and history one day to hold us accountable for neglecting the ancient structure."
