The Center of Documentation and Studies on Ancient Egypt celebrated its 65th anniversary yesterday. It is one of the most important archaeological scientific centers, and archive for documents and information, recording the most important archaeological work done in the last and current century. It’s work extends to include the registration of Egyptian antiquities throughout the country.
Dr. Hisham Al-Leithy, head of the Center of Documentation and Studies on Ancient Egypt, explained that the idea behind establishing the center began after the launch of the international campaign to save Nubia temples by keeping track of them in a scientific manner before moving them from their original place.
He added that one of the center's tasks is to record and study Egyptian antiquities and the scientific publications, and to provide scientists and researchers with the necessary scientific material for their studies. In addition to using the scientific registration work of restoration and periodic inspection carried out by the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The Center also preserves documents collected by registration and those exchanged with various scientific and technical entities and universities.
- Achievements of the Egyptian Antiquities Registration Center
The Center has witnessed many achievements in the field of archaeological work and scientific publishing since its establishment where it succeeded in registering and documenting a number of archaeological areas, where the center began to record and document the traces of Nubia, which was threatened to sink under the waters of Lake Nasser after the construction of the high dam.
After the completion of the registration of Nubia temples before, during, and after the rescue operation, the Centre began to record and document various archaeological areas, including the registration of the cities of Luxor, Aswan, Esna, Asyut, and Alexandria.
Antiquities of Luxor, including The Temple of Ramsium, the Temple of The City of Habu, The well-known tombs of the Valley of the Queens (Nefertari- Kha'a um Wast), the Valley of the Kings (Tutankhamun Cemetery - Amenhotep II Cemetery), as well as the tombs of al-Ashraf in the areas Sheikh Abdul Qurna, Al-Bokha, Al-Asaif, Abul Naga arm and Qarna Merhi, as well as the tombs of workers in the monastery of the city, including but not limited to Menena - Ramuza - Shay - Akht - Kh m Hat - Osser Hat).
Also, the center recorded monuments in different governorates including the Temple of Esna, the Temple of Hibs in the courtyards outside, the Cemetery of Panhassi in the Area of Al Matarya in Cairo, the remains of a dead hostage, Sakara, and the pyramid, as well as the Temple of Sarabit al-Khadem in Sina. In addition to recording and documenting the statue of King Ramses II, which existed in Ramses Square in Cairo before it was transferred to the Grand Museum.
In Aswan province, the 77 rock tombs in the air dome and cape cemeteries were recorded and documented.
In Minya governorate, cemeteries in the areas of Tuna al-Jabal, Tal Al-Amarna, Fraser, Bani Hassan, Artmedos Cave (Antar Stable), Clinical Cabin, Sheikh Saeed Cemeteries and The Corner of the Dead were recorded and documented.
In Assiut province, the tombs of the Western Mountain, the Short Amarna cemeteries, the Mir tombs, the tombs of Deir al-Jabrawi, Al-Humamiyah, Deir Riva, Deir al-Barsha and the border paintings of Akhenaten in the eastern region of Al-Huta were recorded and documented.
In Alexandria province, Mustafa Kamel's tombs, Anfushi tombs, Al-Shatabi tombs, Al-Wardan cemetery, The Kum al-Shaqafa area, which includes Katacombe Cemetery, Tigran Cemetery, Salvajo Cemetery, as well as the Al-Sawari Column area, which includes the Temple of Sarabium, the Temple of Isis and Harbocrats, the Cleansing Basin, the Ptolemaic Mausoleum, and some of the artifacts on display at the site have been recorded and documented.
The Cemetery of "Khaso War", Al-Beheira governorate, the royal cemeteries in Tanis, Al-Sharqiya governorate, and the "Nafr Ma'at" terrace, Beni Suef governorate.
Besides, the Center digitally converts black and white images resulting from the recording work, as well as the glass and gelatin (film) negatives, which are included in the center's scientific archive, by scanning and converting them to the digital body.
As for the work of scientific publishing, Dr. Hisham Al-Laithi noted that the Council has issued many books, such as the Scribbles of Jabal Tiba al-Gharbi, the Temple of Abu Simbel al-Kabir, the Temple of Abu Simbel, the Temple of Kalbasha, and the Temple of Jarf Hussein. In the last five years, many books have been published: The Tombs of Bani Hassan, the Tombs of the Valley of the Queens, The Tomb of Kha'im Hat No. 57 in Luxor, Nefertari Cemetery No. 66, The Temple of Jarf Hussein (Part 5), and the Northern Treasure Chambers of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel. Two books are currently being prepared for the issuance, a book about the Temple of Wadi Al-Sweek, and the other of the Oziri column hall of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, and another book on The Tomb of Osser Hat No. 56 in Luxor.
In addition to the registration and documentation missions in cooperation between the Center and several scientific bodies, including the Egyptian-French Joint Mission at the Ramsium Temple, the Egyptian-Brazilian Mission in The 123rd, 368th in Luxor, the Egyptian-Brazilian Joint Mission at Cemetery 93 in Luxor, the Egyptian-Spanish Joint Mission in the Valley Environment at the Maritime Monastery in Luxor, and the Joint Egyptian Mission with the German Institute of Antiquities in Cairo, to preserve and digitize the scientific archives of the center.
The Center also carried out the work of removing the rubble, restoration, and scientific registration of the Tombs of Repo No. 416 and Samut No. 417 in Luxor.