On the Karnak restorations efforts
Egypt, Local, 6/7/2003

Egypt's Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) Zahi Hawas lashed out this week at Egyptian archaeologists working at the Egyptian-French Center for using cement in restorations on the Karnak temple in Luxor.

"The instructions clearly forbid the use of cement in restoration work," Hawas said, adding that limestone is the perfect material for this kind of work. Workers defended themselves, saying that cement had been used before the new instructions were issued. Meanwhile, the joint committee at the Egyptian-French Center met to discuss what action should be taken on the Karnak Temple, and agreed to set up a joint work team to devise a preliminary upgrade plan for the area around the site.

The ad-hoc committee will hold first meeting in September.The center is currently engaged in studying the main part of the temple, which was built in the reign of Thutmosis III, the rebuilding of the celebratory court that was built by Thutmosis IV and the restoration of temple wall paintings.

The center is also to collect and restore 40,000 pieces that were removed from the Osiris tomb.

The French-Egyptian Center was founded in l967 in accordance with an agreement between the Egyptian and French governments.

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