5 Egyptian, American, Spanish archaeological missions launch excavation season

CAIRO - 1 October 2019: Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Head of the Egyptian Archaeological Mission in Luxor Mostafa Waziri announced the launch of the winter excavation season for 2019 in Thebes.

Thebes is the capital of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The winter excavation season will be launched with the participation of three Egyptian missions, a mission from the USA and a mission from Spain, aiming to search the ancient Pharaonic cemetery west of Luxor. The excavations come under the supervision of the Ministry of Antiquities to revive tourism in Egypt.

The head of the Egyptian archaeological mission in Luxor stated to the press that earnest work is being carried out by the foreign excavations in the west bank of Luxor, an area that is rich in hundreds of tombs and dozens of ancient Egyptian temples. Waziri further explained that these missions began excavating, besides the work of protection and restoration of monuments and antiquities.

In addition, Waziri commented that the most prominent of these missions is the Egyptian archaeological mission headed by well-known Egyptologist Zahi Hawass; the mission operates in the western valley known as the Valley of the Apes and in the Valley of the Kings.

Hawass also heads the Egyptian archaeological mission working in the Draa Abul Naga area, in addition to the Egyptian archaeological mission operating in the region of Assasif, next to the Spanish archaeological mission that works in the temple of King Tuthmosis III and the American archaeological mission, which works in the tomb of Prince Amenmesse and the cemetery number 63 in the Valley of the Kings.

The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities confirmed the approval of the council's Permanent Committee on the work of about 240 foreign archaeological missions in various archaeological sites during the new archaeological season, in addition to 40 Egyptian archaeological missions.

Waziri further pointed out that the number of Egyptian archaeological missions that carry out excavations in archaeological sites in Egypt's governorates rose from five missions to 40 during the new archaeological season, which began days ago. Also, the Egyptian archaeologists are participating with 20 missions that share their work with the Ministry of Antiquities. Furthermore, Waziri stressed the Ministry of Antiquities was able to provide the necessary funds for these missions through the establishment of a number of successful foreign exhibitions, the latest of which was “Treasures of the golden pharaoh Tutankhamun” in Paris.

Waziri clarified that such exhibitions not only provide more funds to the Ministry of Antiquities, but also contribute significantly to promoting tourism in Egypt. Waziri added that the foreign archaeological missions working in Egypt depend on Egyptian archaeologists, restorers and workers by 90 percent, and that the Ministry of Antiquities succeeded in improving the expertise of Egyptian archaeological workers through workshops held in excavation and restoration schools.