Mohammed Abdel Fattah, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the ongoing renovations at the step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara with General Mohammed el-Sheikha, head of the developments unit of the council Monday. Abdel Fattah said that the pyramid is stable and there is no need to be concerned. He went onto say that the renovation company is fulfilling it duties and there are no obstacles to completion or issues with the already-appropriated three million EGP (U.S. $503,000) budget. He added that this project must be completed because of the pyramid's historical, archaeological, and artistic importance as the oldest pyramid in Egypt. Renovations on the site are one of the Supreme Council of Antiquities' priorities in the coming period. Professor Hassan Fahmi, an advisor to the project, said that he has reported in detail on work necessary to renovate the pyramid. The renovations will strengthen dilapidated and broken stones and mend the face of the pyramid. He added that the council is currently working on restoration work inside the pyramid including corridors and a funeral chamber. The chamber contains the 28-meter deep sarcophagus and funerary well, located at the front of the chamber. Renovators also removed debris that completely covered the sarcophagus, and have begun reinforcing ceilings in the pyramid.
