site.btaWorld-Renowned Egyptian Archaeologist Hawass in Sofia for 90th Anniversary of Bulgaria-Egypt Diplomatic Relations

World-Renowned Egyptian Archaeologist Hawass in Sofia for 90th Anniversary of  Bulgaria-Egypt Diplomatic Relations

Sofia, February 8 (BTA) - World-renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass, former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities and Director of Excavations at Giza, Saqqara, Bahariya Oasis, and the Valley of the Kings, is in Sofia for observances of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Egypt. Speaking at a BTA-hosted news conference on Monday, he said that the most important part of his work at the moment is an attempt to find the tomb of Cleopatra and Marc Anthony. The specialists have focused on a temple and its vicinity near Alexandria. Radar probes will be made in March to determine whether the tomb is there.

"Egypt is an absolutely safe country to visit. All archaeological sites are protected by the Egyptian Tourist Police, as well as the hotels and cruises," Dr Hawass said. "Tourism and the tourist industry are important not only for the Egyptian economy, but above all for the restoration of historical monuments which belong to the whole world.  Stop coming to Egypt and you will practically encourage the terrorists, because lack of funding from visitors supports means no restoration activities," the archaeologist said.

According to Prof. Hawass, the archaeological monuments in Egypt are at a tangible risk of disappearing if the right balance between the needs of the tourist industry and those for restoration is not found. In his opinion, replicas of the more important sites should be made (with access for tourists), thus saving the originals for the next generations.

"Most of the ancient monuments in Libya, Syria and Iraq have been destroyed by ISIS. They steal archaeological artefacts from museums and sell them to illegal traders to buy arms with which they kill people," Hawass said. In his opinion, it is important to train archaeologists and historians working in these countries to hide their from ISIS finds and thus preserve them. Urgent measures to preserve the world heritage in Baghdad should also be taken until the Arab League and the UN find a solution to this problem.

Dr Hawass takes credit for a number of major discoveries during his 30-year career, including the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya Oasis. He has discovered two previously unknown Old Kingdom pyramids: one near the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, and one belonging to a queen of King Teti at Saqqara. 

As an archaeologist deeply concerned about the conservation and protection of Egypt's monuments, he supervised major conservation projects for the Great Sphinx, and the Serapeum and Step Pyramid at Saqqara. He has developed site management plans for a number of important areas, including the Unfinished Obelisk Quarry in Aswan, the temples of Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Dendera, the West Bank of Luxor, Giza, and Saqqara. He has also initiated the construction of nineteen new museums throughout Egypt, including the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) and the National Egyptian Museum of Civilization (NEMC). Under his direction, several historical mosques, churches, and synagogues have been restored and reopened to the public. Dr Hawass has actively promoted the organization of exhibitions of the treasures of King Tutankhamun in many cities in America, Australia, Europe, and Japan. These exhibitions have brought more than 125 million dollars in revenue to Egypt, the professor's official website says.