Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities: Constituents and Challenges
Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Head of the Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
19 February 2023
01:00 PM
Main Building, Auditorium Hall
The Antiquities Museum and the Zahi Hawass Center for Egyptology, affiliated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Cultural Outreach Sector, organize a lecture entitled “Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities: Constituents and Challenges”, on Sunday, 19 February 2023; 1:00 pm, at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Main Entrance, Auditorium. The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Head of the Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The lecture sheds light on the idea behind establishing the Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities, and its role in documenting all that is archaeological in Egypt.
The construction of the Aswan High Dam has provided several economic and social benefits for Egyptians. It has protected Egypt from droughts, famines and high flood risks, in addition to electricity production. However, the project has led to other critical negative impacts; not on humans, but on stones. The project threatened a group of temples that are unique from an architectural and historical point of view, and for the cultural heritage they represent; not only for Egyptians, but for people all over the world. The temples of Nubia—Kalabsha, Philae, Dendur, and Abu Simbel among others—were threatened to drown and disappear under the waters of Lake Nasser behind the High Dam.
The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt; represented by its former Minister of Culture, Dr. Tharwat Okasha, addressed the UNESCO to take serious and rapid steps towards the formation of an international campaign to save the temples of Nubia. In order to preserve this heritage, a specialized scientific center was needed to record these temples; thus, the idea of establishing the Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities came up. Hence, an agreement between the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the UNESCO under Law No. 148 of 4 May 1955 was made, and the Resolution No. 184 of 1956 was issued; to establish this scientific Center. In 8 March 1960, an international rescue appeal was issued and was received positively; so, the dream was turned into reality. The Center of Documentation of Egyptian Antiquities began its mission to record and document these temples before, during and after the rescue operation, in a highly accurate scientific manner.