Japanese mission unearths plaque for Thutmose IV in Sakkara
Egypt, History, 8/24/2001

Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni said the Japanese archaeological mission which works in Sakkara under Sakugi Yaishimora unearthed a plaque that dates back to the era of king Thutmose of the 18 Dynasty, the Modern Kingdom.

Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Dr. Gaballah Ali Gaballah said that the plaque is made of limestone and has a relief of king Thutmose with his blue crown holding an Asian captive in his left hand and a dagger in his right.

Giza Antiquities Director Zahi Hawas said King Thutmose IV cartouche is engraved in front of the king's face with a line in hieroglyphic reading "the Kind God who gives perpetual life like Ra."

Hawas said that Thutmose was interested in the Menf Cemetery, adding the plaque show him worshipping the Sphinx.

On the other hand, Farouk Hosni Wednesday said that a big conference would be held in Egypt on November 17 to refute doubts cast over restoration of some Islamic antiquities.

"The aim of this three-day conference is to reassure primarily the Egyptian people on their Islamic heritage and refute mendacity's inside and outside Egypt," he told a press conference.

He quoted a UNESCO team, who visited Egypt recently, as lauding the way Islamic monuments in Cairo are preserved. "The delegation will refer a report to the UNESCO, being responsible for preserving the world antiquities and human heritage," he said.

Addressing the same conference, Gaballah blamed the controversy over allegedly bungled restoration works by some companies which have not been among the successful bidders for the maintenance scheme.

Previous Stories:
  Saladin's Eastern fence undergoes restoration   (8/21/2001)
  Rare arch. piece in Alexandria library museum   (8/20/2001)
  UNESCO expert lauds Old Cairo restoration project   (8/16/2001)

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