USAID Contributes in Maintaining Monuments in Upper Egypt

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, contributed in carrying out restoration works in Dar Abu ‘l-Naga area and Khonsu temple in Luxor governorate.

This comes in line with USAID's commitment to supporting Egypt's vital tourism sector, and the world heritage represented by cultural monuments in Egypt.

USAID has awarded an EGP 33 million grant to generate greater economic and educational benefits for those living in and around the proposed project sites. Encouraging the local population to invest in their cultural heritage helps to ensure their future participation in safeguarding that heritage.

The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) will be continuing programs that focus on significant monuments and tourist destinations within Egypt. These include:

Theban Tomb 110 (TT110) forecourt and interior

ARCE teams have been continuing work on site preparation (including archaeology), conservation and training. It was, in fact, ARCE trained archaeologists who, while working at the TT110 site, uncovered the two unrecorded 18th Dynasty tombs of Amenhotep known as Rebiu and his son Samut. These two new tombs, beyond their obvious archaeological significance, will further encourage tourism to this site.

Dar Abu ‘l-Naga and Qurnet Marai

Both sites are located on the west bank of the Nile opposite Luxor. Dar Abu ‘l-Naga is north of Deir el Bahri and Qurnet Marai is near Merenptah’s Mortuary Temple and Deir el Medina.

ARCE will research previous survey work and our Egyptian surveyor will develop a topographic map of the site improvement area. Satellite images will be obtained to show the area before and after the completion of the project. One essential goal of this activity is to prepare these areas for better tourist access. These sites are in the Qurna/Tombs of the Nobles area where the experience for tourists can be greatly improved. ARCE plans to employ approximately 300 skilled and unskilled workers (primarily unemployed youth).

Cleaning and Conservation of the Khonsu Temple Chapels

Some of the most well-preserved and vividly painted relief carvings anywhere at Karnak are hidden within Khonsu Temple under centuries of smoke and grime. ARCE trained Egyptian conservators will continue with the cleaning, conservation, display and presentation of the temple. This will lead to enhanced tourism and much needed revenue through increased ticket sales.

Red Monastery: Conservation and Training, Job Creation, Site Management, Community Awareness

The magnificent painted interior of the Red Monastery Church now cleaned and conserved by ARCE is an irreplaceable piece of Egypt's cultural heritage. To guarantee the sustainability and preservation of the Red Monastery Church, ARCE will implement a conservation and training field school, a site management plan, and a cultural awareness program. Each is aimed at safeguarding the site by respecting the multiple significances the church has for different groups, as a combination of living religious heritage in use and a very important historic monument.

Multi-disciplinary Capacity Building Courses in Cairo and Upper Egypt

This program will provide participants with classroom and on-site course work in the areas most directly connected with ARCE and USAID activities under this APS and previous USAID-funded projects. Those invited to participate will be cultural heritage stakeholders in Cairo (Historic Cairo and Old Cairo), Luxor (concerning ARCE project locations) and Sohag Governorates (Red and White Monasteries, Akhmim and Abydos).