Egypt Update: Rare Tomb May Have Been Destroyed

Egypt Update: Rare Tomb May Have Been Destroyed

news.sciencemag.org

Reports of damage to one of the few ancient Egyptian tombs devoted solely to a woman have tempered the news that most of Egypt's priceless antiquities have escaped damage and that teams of foreign archaeologists are safe amid widespread protests against the regime led by Hosni Mubarak.

One archaeologist present at the famous cemetery of Saqqara, south of Cairo, said that as many as 200 looters were digging for treasure in the area this past weekend before police resecured the area. The excavator, who requested anonymity, added that the tomb of Maya, the wet nurse of King Tutankhamun, was

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People are starting to loot antiquities away from the city, such a sad state of affairs and i doubt the government/people will be able to protect it all.

Sad sad sad

Come on Egypt, protect your national heritage properly!

People should be able to visit their treasures for generations to come, not having them monopolized to generate money (I can assume thats the only reason behind it)



news.sciencemag.org
(visit the link for the full news article)

i had a feeling something like this would have had happened, it would have been best if they left the King Tutankhamun in Canada.

I have been wondering if the current unrest in Egypt doesn't have something to do with Egyptian artifacts wanted by certain factions of government, intelligence and military.

I think part of the reason we went into Iraq was for similar reasons.

There is talk about a stargate also in Cairo.

reply to post by Alphaprimez1


Could you elaborate on "stargate"? Are you speaking of a lost city perhaps?

Is this the first report of looting a tomb? Seems like other items were in the museums?

It is very disturbing to think they don't have respect for ancient artifacts that cannot be replaced - and where are they taking the items after looting. Items that are gold they would want to melt down. I am thinking perhaps these items may be going to Mubarak, just sayin - your thoughts appreciated.

Yeah I believe this is the first report of an entire tomb being defaced and destroyed.

What a lot of people don't realize is that there are still hundreds of archaeological sites around Egypt which are normally usually protected with a average door and lock, as they still contain numerous unreceived valuables (gold, jewels, writings, tomb furnishings) they are very susceptible to looting. An example is the literal thousands of golden gilded mummies found in El Bahariya Oasis by Zahi Hawass in 1996, by todays monetary standards it has an estimated value into the tens of millions of dollars.

The vast majority of these mummies are still in situ due to the sheer amount and unavailability of resources to procure and preserve them.

Also, I believe a Star Gate is meant to be more commonly known as an "inter dimensional portal". I do not acknowledge the existence of them as journalistic or scholarly evidence is almost non-existent.

I plan on keeping up to date on any more damage done to Egypts international treasures or anything relevant in the Middle East over time.

Thanks

If their all unguarded now maybe someone could sneak in and see where those tunnels under the Sphinx go... and why they were digging there recently...

This is a reminder of the past when the Library in Alexander was destroyed, all that knowledege lost forever. There was also a vast library in Egypt, but after a major disaster it was looted and the ancient texts stated the scrolls were walked over till they turned to dust. This is why we know so little about all the ancient worlds that have come and gone. The only thing that survives is written in stone. What are we leaving written in stone?

PROTECTING EGYPT’S TREASURES

Zahi Hawass “would like to tell the world that the situation in Egypt was bad for two days, beginning on Friday.” Hawass, who now sits in Mubarak’s cabinet—he was appointed Minister of Antiquities on Monday—and whom Ian Parker wrote about in 2009, was not referring to the general situation on the streets of Cairo, where, as Jenna Krajeski wrote, looters with knives and guns were attacking civilians and hospitals, but more specifically of the vandalism of the Egypt Museum.

Read more www.newyorker.com...

I think Zahi Hawass is really under stating what is going on, i knew awhile ago that as he was recently extended the position of chief of the SCA (Supreme Council of Antiquities) it was rigged, the contracts and records show that he was meant to retire at 60, Zahi is now 62 i think.. and Mubarak bent the rules for him..