Egypt
The tomb of Tutankhamun will be closed to visitors soon in an effort to protect the tomb and it's painting from a thousand visitors a day. In an effort to still please tourists Dr. Zahi Hawass has commissioned a replica tomb.
There seems little choice in an effort of preservation of the most fragile of monuments including all of the decorated tombs in the valley of kings. The valleys fame has become it's own worst enemy and certainly must represent one of the most fragile environments in Egypt for preservation of thin layers of decorated plaster on walls which absorb the salts from the breath of countless numbers of visitors.
For the sake of preservation of the tombs in the valley of kings it would make sense to close the site, of course the tombs who's decoration is badly damaged including the tomb of Siptah Kv47 or the tomb of Merenptah Kv8 could be potentially left open as sacrifices for the dollar? Not a great solution!
The famous upper paleolithic art in the caves at Lascaux France have been closed to tourists since 1963 on behalf of the preservation of the art contained within. There are reproductions of two of the caves painted halls nearby, though I have to admit I will not be rushing to France to see them the closure is still the responsible thing to do.
Perhaps the Lascaux solution is the correct solution for the valley of kings leaving no option but for tourists to view reproductions of the tombs and return the royal cemetery back to she who loves silence, the goddess Meretseger.
- Facsimile Of Boy King’s Crypt Includes Lost Panel Reconstructed From Photographs
The Art Newspaper With photos. Tourists to Egypt will soon be able to visit the tomb of Tutankhamun without setting foot in the Valley of the Kings. A €500,000 life-size facsimile of the Boy King’s tomb and sarcophagus are to be installed in the...
- Tomb Of Tutankhamun To Close
Many thanks to Amigos de la Egiptologia for these links. El Pais (Jacinto Anton) Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has announced that the tomb of Tutankhamun will be closed in order to prevent ongoing deterioration caused by mass...
- Factum Arte's Work In The Tomb Of Tutankhamun
Factum Arte With photos. Thanks to Jane Akshar and her blog for the above link. The High resolution recording and production of an exact facsimile of the Tomb of Tutankhamun is part of A major initiative by the Supreme Council of Antiquities to preserve...
- Conservation: More About The Work To Be Carried Out On The Tomb Of Tutankhamun
Al Ahram Weekly Almost nine decades after its discovery the tomb of Tutankhamun is to be comprehensively restored, reports Nevine El-Aref Click to view caption Ancient Egyptian tombs are attracting more and more visitors. Their very popularity, however,...
- Replica Tombs
It only makes sense that Egypt's decorated tombs including those in the Valley of Kings should be closed and replicas created for tourists to visit. http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/08/closed-sign-coming-soon-to-king-tuts-tomb.html...
Egypt
The Tomb of Tutankhamun
The tomb of Tutankhamun will be closed to visitors soon in an effort to protect the tomb and it's painting from a thousand visitors a day. In an effort to still please tourists Dr. Zahi Hawass has commissioned a replica tomb.
There seems little choice in an effort of preservation of the most fragile of monuments including all of the decorated tombs in the valley of kings. The valleys fame has become it's own worst enemy and certainly must represent one of the most fragile environments in Egypt for preservation of thin layers of decorated plaster on walls which absorb the salts from the breath of countless numbers of visitors.
For the sake of preservation of the tombs in the valley of kings it would make sense to close the site, of course the tombs who's decoration is badly damaged including the tomb of Siptah Kv47 or the tomb of Merenptah Kv8 could be potentially left open as sacrifices for the dollar? Not a great solution!
The famous upper paleolithic art in the caves at Lascaux France have been closed to tourists since 1963 on behalf of the preservation of the art contained within. There are reproductions of two of the caves painted halls nearby, though I have to admit I will not be rushing to France to see them the closure is still the responsible thing to do.
Perhaps the Lascaux solution is the correct solution for the valley of kings leaving no option but for tourists to view reproductions of the tombs and return the royal cemetery back to she who loves silence, the goddess Meretseger.
- Facsimile Of Boy King’s Crypt Includes Lost Panel Reconstructed From Photographs
The Art Newspaper With photos. Tourists to Egypt will soon be able to visit the tomb of Tutankhamun without setting foot in the Valley of the Kings. A €500,000 life-size facsimile of the Boy King’s tomb and sarcophagus are to be installed in the...
- Tomb Of Tutankhamun To Close
Many thanks to Amigos de la Egiptologia for these links. El Pais (Jacinto Anton) Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, has announced that the tomb of Tutankhamun will be closed in order to prevent ongoing deterioration caused by mass...
- Factum Arte's Work In The Tomb Of Tutankhamun
Factum Arte With photos. Thanks to Jane Akshar and her blog for the above link. The High resolution recording and production of an exact facsimile of the Tomb of Tutankhamun is part of A major initiative by the Supreme Council of Antiquities to preserve...
- Conservation: More About The Work To Be Carried Out On The Tomb Of Tutankhamun
Al Ahram Weekly Almost nine decades after its discovery the tomb of Tutankhamun is to be comprehensively restored, reports Nevine El-Aref Click to view caption Ancient Egyptian tombs are attracting more and more visitors. Their very popularity, however,...
- Replica Tombs
It only makes sense that Egypt's decorated tombs including those in the Valley of Kings should be closed and replicas created for tourists to visit. http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/08/closed-sign-coming-soon-to-king-tuts-tomb.html...