The tourism minister’s committee announced that Egypt has abandoned a contentious proposal to place back the old granite covering on Menkaure’s pyramid, the smallest of the famous Giza pyramids.
Last month, Mostafa Waziri, the secretary general of the supreme council of antiquities, declared the plan as “the project of the century”.
However, the announcement that the historical structure may be modified sparked a global backlash, leading the Egyptian antiquities authority to reevaluate the plans. The pyramids are the sole remaining wonder of the ancient world’s original seven.
Out of all the pyramids, Menkaure was the only one planned to have a granite exterior instead of limestone. However, only 16 to 18 layers of granite were added before construction stopped, believed to be due to Menkaure’s passing around 2503 BC.
Throughout the years, theft, erosion, and structural collapse have resulted in the disappearance of many layers of the pyramid. Currently, only seven layers remain visible, with many granite blocks scattered around its base due to falling.
According to Waziri, the replacement of the granite will not begin until a year of scanning and documenting has been completed.
The committee in charge of reviewing the Menkaure pyramid has raised concerns about the reinstallation of the granite blocks that have been scattered around the pyramid’s base for thousands of years. In a statement on Thursday, the committee unanimously expressed their objections.
According to Zahi Hawass, a previous minister of antiquities who led the committee, it is not feasible to identify the original location of each block. Additionally, using cement to replace them would damage the pyramid.
Hawass assured Reuters that there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of the pyramids of Giza. He has received numerous messages and inquiries from people expressing their worries, but he wants to reassure everyone that the pyramids are secure. He specifically mentioned that the pyramid of Menkaure is untouchable.
The group of seven individuals agreed to the proposal to dig in the boat pits of the Menkaure pyramid, which are similar to the Pharaonic boat pits discovered near Khufu’s pyramid next to Menkaure’s. However, they will only do so after a thorough and comprehensive scientific examination.
“According to Hawass, in the field of archaeology, patience is essential. Rushing can lead to damaging the site. Proper protocol for any work at the pyramids involves conducting a thorough study and receiving guidance on next steps.”
Source: theguardian.com
