Zahi Hawass: Where Were Egyptian Obelisks Cut from?

When I assumed my work as Secretary of the Antiquities Supreme Council, I began implementing a program called "Site Management", also dubbed as archaeological sites management.

This period can be called "the golden age of Egyptian antiquities".

Therefore, I started studying this new program and traveled to participate in a conference organized by the Paul Getty Institute, which was held on a boat; we traveled from Tunisia to Rome visiting many archaeological sites.

The working on one of the granite quarries in Aswan was considered one of the most important projects that took place, and it is known that there are more than five granite quarries in the 1st waterfall area.

Also, we have many on-site panels that record the pieces of this quarry.

In addition the beautiful scenes for workers, including scene drawings of obelisks, as well as the dolphin fish scenes. This kind of fish was not present in the Nile River, but in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, and this indicates the presence of workers from these areas who participated in cutting obelisks.

.Also, the site was used for tourism by making an entrance to the area and a visitor center, where a movie about obelisks is shown. After that, a path was created inside the archaeological area.

At the end of visiting, tourists found a cafeteria, toilets and gift homes.