Al-Ahram Article by Hawass Highlights ARCE’s Role in Egyptian Conservation

In the April 14-20 issue of Al-Ahram Weekly, Dr. Zahi Hawass, head of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, speaks glowingly of the American Research Center in Egypt’s support of Egyptian conservation in an article entitled “Dig Days: One Day in Alexandria.” Excerpts include: “American Research Centre in Egypt (ARCE), in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and with funding from USAID, had finished the restoration of three mosaics. The three mosaics took approximately six months to restore and are now on display in the museum as masterpieces. The magnificent pieces date from the early history of Alexandria….ARCE has recently appointed a new director, Gary Scott, who is active and keen to help with the archaeology of Egypt. This can be seen in the field trips to teach our young inspectors excavation techniques, as well as in the great work at Bab Zuweila. We opened the renovated gate here with my dear friend US Ambassador David Welsh and the minister of culture, Farouk Hosni. The restoration of the site, which was carried out by Niry Hampikian, has restored the essence of the past -- we even found some Pharaonic pieces that had been re-used in the Islamic building…. I believe that ARCE's work in Egypt could be the best for conservation and restoration of the monuments.”

 

Science News Online Article Describes Boston University Professor’s Discovery

Kathryn Bard’s discovery of Egyptian sea vessel artifacts at pharaonic port of Mersa Gawasis is celebrated in a May 7, 2005 Science News Online article entitled “Ancient Mariners: Caves Harbor View of Early Egyptian Sailors.” Bard discovered caves which were used by Egyptian sailors over 3,500 years ago, which gives insight into the nautical habits of Pharaonic Egyptians. Bard and her team's coleader, Rodolfo Fattovich of the University of Naples in Italy, described their finds last week at the annual meeting, held in Cambridge, Mass., of the Cairo-based American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE). Evidence that the cave had been used as a shrine includes five limestone tablets, four of which were in niches carved into the chamber's walls. One tablet contains hieroglyphic writing that refers to King Amenemhat III, who ruled Egypt around 3,800 years ago. The tablet describes several sea expeditions to Punt and to a previously unknown site, Bia-Punt. Until now, most researchers had considered Queen Hatshepsut's Punt expedition to be the first of its kind.