History of Underwater Cultural Heritage in Egypt

Ali Abu Dashish

Dr. Hagar Saad Eldien Mostafa, specialized researcher in coptology and heritage conservation revealed archeological revelations around the ancient harbor of Alexandria which have restored enthusiasm for the city's legacy.

In the meantime, the quick urban and coastal improvement of present-day Alexandria raises numerous critical beach administration issues which need tending to guarantee the amicable advancement of human exercises while ensuring the protection of the submerged remains of the old city.

Dr. Hagar added that: "Although researches encompassing UCH have been attempted in Egypt for very nearly a century, it is worthy to mention that the Department of Underwater Antiquities (DUA) was established in late 1996. Therefore, there is an urgent need for such association evidence after the disclosure of the submerged remains of Alexandria's Lighthouse at the foot of Qaitbay Fort and including a piece of the imperial quarter in the Eastern Harbor in 1994 and 1996 respectively."

"People who were in charge of archeological legacy were uninterested in this field, even though now and then they were looking with submerged disclosures," the researcher added.

Dr. Hagar Saad Eldien , specialized researcher in coptology and heritage conservation revealed archeological

Underwater Cultural Heritage in Egypt

To start with, the specific prerequisites for examination were not accessible in the first piece of the twentieth century, and money related help was hard to verify. At that point, from 1945 to 1979, the shorelines of Egypt were unaccessible because of the military circumstance.

Dr. Hagar continued to SEE that: The DUA is situated in Alexandria, under the bearing of the Egyptology Sector of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA); it is an arm of the Ministry of States for Antiquities. The specification of Alexandria to house the pision is no mishap: the seabed in and around Alexandria's harbor hosts a heap of archeological leftovers.

The DUA has secured the whole submerged legacy along the banks of Egypt, regardless of whether in the Mediterranean or the Red Sea, in the Nile and its branches just as the five vast inland lakes, in addion, it oversees all amphibian archeological exercises.

It likewise attempts to uncover influence overviews related to relief work. When it was first founded, there were fourteen archaeologists in the DUA, and this number later increased to twenty-five.

The archaeologists have various historical specialties: Dynastic Egypt, the Graeco- Roman, Coptic, and Islamic periods. They are sufficiently proficient to undertake the necessary tasks of documentation (drawing, photographing, topographical survey, while ping).

Alexandria Underwater Heritage

These per-archaeologists have been well trained and are acquainted with modern methodology through initial participation in foreign missions. They have great enthusiasm now to help them in developing their competence.

Dr. Hagar pointed out that Egyptian experts understood that some co-activity between different Egyptian organizations and outside foundations was required.

Since 1996, the DUA has directed numerous helpful archeological reviews and unearthing in its territorial and inland waters. These activities incorporate geophysical and visual archeological overviews and submerged unearthing.

Excavators from Egypt, Europe, and the United States have participated in the revelation and investigation of various locales in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Nile, Lake Qarun, in Nelson's Island and around Lake Mareotis.

Search for cultural heritage in Alexandria

These disclosures spread the Pharaonic, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic periods. Once antiques are recouped, they are transported to the preservation and research centers in Alexandria. When they are processed, the relics are kept in the storerooms of the DUA, or are given over to galleries for presentation.

Geographical components have assumed an essential role in the history and ancient times of Alexandria. Relative ocean level changes have likewise assumed a significant role. Roman, Greek and Abu Qir Bay, dating from 500 BC are currently submerged 2– 5.5 m underneath the outside of the ocean.

Furthermore, severe earthquakes have affected Alexandria during historical eras, bringing about the total pulverization of the Pharos Lighthouse.

Dive next to the underwater heritage

The significance of Alexandria's connection with the sea has for quite some time been evident from antiquated written sources and of late, there has been a restoration of enthusiasm for investigating the archeological traces of this history.

The physical remains from Alexandria's heritage, officially undermined by the powers of nature, are currently likewise compromised by the concentrated human-made improvement. Since the fifteenth century, the Qait Bey Citadel has protected the external arm of Alexandria's Eastern Harbor. It is presently a milestone of national significance.

Dr. Hagar concluded her talk saying; "At the beginning of the 1990's the Supreme Council of Antiquities, which is in charge of the Citadel, was worried about disintegration at its north-eastern edge and resorted in 1991 to depending on the Coastal Protection Authority to take necessary defensive measures to shield the Citadel from further harmful wave.

Work started in 1993, and 180 solid obstructs, each gauging a few tons, were put around 30 m seaward from the Citadel. A group of jumpers who were shooting a film saw that the solid squares were stopping on mostly covered remnants.

Historic city under water

Dumping of the solid squares was halted. The remnants, covered up under the waves and shrouded in silt, were those of Alexandria's antiquated beacon, the Pharos, one of them is among the seven miracles of the old world.

Unexpectedly, Alexandria's fifteenth-century Citadel was being secured to the detriment of the remnants of its third century BC Ptolemaic Pharos, the structure that has remained in its place".