Nevine El-Aref admires some of the artefacts unearthed by Spanish archaeologists over 12 decades of excavations in Egypt Spanish archaeology in Egypt began as early as 1886 when Spanish diplomat Eduardo Toda Y Gèell took charge of overseeing the excavation and inventory of the artefacts in the tomb of the 19th-Dynasty craftsman Sennedjem at Deir Al-Medina, near Luxor. During the early 20th century, the Count of Galarza carried out excavations in Giza and in 1908, when Cairo University was built, he was the only Spaniard to be appointed as a lecturer. The Spanish devotion to archaeology in Egypt was firmly established during the Nubia temples salvage operation in the late 1960s, when the Spanish archaeological mission led by Almagro Basch carried out excavations at sites in parts of Egyptian and Sudanese lands, which led to a better understanding of Nubian history from the Neolithic to the Islamic eras. At the end of the campaign, Spain received several thousand items found at the sites as compensation. These are now on display in the National Archeological Museum in Madrid. The Temple of Debod, now erected in central Madrid, was another acknowledgement of Spain's efforts to save the heritage of Egypt. To highlight such a great contribution to the research and preservation of ancient Egyptian history over the past 12 decades, a gala evening was held two weeks ago in the exquisite garden of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where Spanish and Egyptian archaeologists gathered along with prominent figures such as actor Omar Sharif as well as Spanish and Egyptian ministers of culture César Antonio Molina and Farouk Hosni to celebrate "120 years of Spanish archaeology in Egypt". The event will also host an archaeological exhibition displaying 137 objects unearthed by various Spanish missions since the late 19th century. Hosni described the event as a further demonstration of the close friendship between Egypt and Spain. He pointed out that Spanish archaeological missions had participated with passion in the effort to interpret the ancient civilisation of Egypt, not only through excavations in which they had accelerated the progress of Egyptology, but also in preserving its precious items. "We know that cooperation between our two countries in the field of archaeology will continue to grow and flourish," Hosni said. Molina said it had been a history full of difficulties, largely unknown often and insufficiently valued, yet with results, findings and material evidence, now distributed among different museums in Egypt, brought here to this exhibition to speak of the important scientific contribution by Spain to the knowledge of ancient Egypt. "It has been a history dotted with famous names such as Charles Maspero, Wilbour, Grebaut and Bouriant, who were the leading lights of international Egyptology," Molina said. He pointed out that the exhibition also highlighted the present status of the Spanish missions, which are much esteemed by the international scientific community, and are now engaged in valuable work at Kom Al-Khamasin, Oxyrhynchus or Herakleopolis Magna -- which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year -- and also about the work carried out on the west bank of historic Luxor. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said that such an occasion is an opportunity to look back on the achievements of Spanish colleagues and scholars and at the same time to look forward to many more years of fruitful archaeological cooperation between Egypt and Spain. The director of the Egyptian Museum, Wafaa El-Saddik, said that the exhibition highlighted the efforts of several archaeological missions all over Egypt. It includes 12 objects derived from the tomb of Sennedjem at Deir Al-Medina in Luxor. These items are the inner and outer coffins of the tomb's owner, a set of canopic jars and several funerary objects and containers. Artefacts which have never been on display before are also exhibited, among them are three false doors, three offering tables, four sets of canopic jars and several ushabti (votive) figurines collected from the Herakleopolis Magna gallery. There are also items from excavations conducted in the tombs of Djehuty and Hery at Draa Abul-Naga on Luxor's west bank. These are small funerary objects, a limestone sarcophagus, amulets and a glass jar. Cartouches on mud bricks from Senenmut's tomb are also on show, along with other funerary objects from Kom Al-Khamasin and Beni Sweif Museum.
