Egypt's PM, JICA chief discuss boosting investment, education ties at TICAD 9    Egyptian pound wavers vs. USD in early trade    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Little Drops, Big Damage
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 03 - 11 - 2009

Pharaohs built temples on the edge of the Nile's floodplain to protect them from water damage. Today underground water seeping into stone foundations threatens to undo their great works.
"It's horrific," said Raymond Johnson, director of the Epigraphic Survey of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. "This activity can be so insidious that it breaks down the fabric of the stone itself."
In this process, known as capillary action, porous stone sucks water from the ground. The salt in the stone moves to the surface because of humidity in the air and forms crystals, often on the areas carved with inscriptions.
"The stone particles, in which the salt crystallizes, expand and just blow apart," Johnson said.
So far archaeologists have removed considerable amounts of salt crystals around Luxor. To do this they use a simple technique of placing acid-free paper or a special clay directly onto the crystals, where it absorbs the salt.
"There's been areas of Medinet Habu on the West Bank where there's a well of Ramses III that has actually started to collapse because the foundation's turned to sand," he said.
Ironically, the threat on these important temples may have originated from the sweetest of substances: sugar.
Government officials said the abundance of sugar cane farms in Luxor and the flooding techniques that farmers use have raised the water table.
"The sugar cane, we call it in Egypt, this is the lazy job of all the jobs for the lazy people," said General Samir Farag, the head of the Luxor Supreme Council.
"He just floods the whole area with water because sugar cane needs very hot weather, very good sun, and plenty of water, flooded water. It is not to irrigate with the drops. So he sleeps and the water is pumping, machine is running for the whole day. So you will find at the end of the day that the ground is completely covered with water."
Underground pipes are currently being installed to move water away from the temples. A series of pipelines will run in front of Medinet Habu, the Colossi of Memnon and Amenhotep III, the Ramesseum, and the funerary temple of Seti I, and then into farmland to the Asfun Canal. A similar program was conducted on the East Bank of Luxor.
"Here, around the two temples on the East Bank, we are cultivating 22,000 acres of sugar cane. Can you imagine it? So it is a disaster," Farag said.
To avoid unearthing antiquities during construction, most of the pipes on the West Bank will be about 100 meters from any temple or structure. The one exception was digging in front of Medinet Habu, which uncovered walls that are possibly from the medieval period.


Clic here to read the story from its source.