Will Climate Change Destroy the Pyramids?
We’ve seen how rising water is damaging the Sphinx and the ongoing efforts to reduce the water levels there. One thing leads to another: The capillary action of the stone brings water high up into the monument, calcium deposits then form, which in turn attract the local bird population who have a taste for them. In order to get at the resulting calcium, these birds peck away the stone, which was already made soft by the damp. The droppings that the birds excrete onto the Sphinx are acidic and also have a harmful effect on the monument.
I recently reported how this problem has not been solved and pigeons can still be seen in large numbers pecking away at the face of the Sphinx.
Dr Hawass has written about the problem of the rising water levels quite a bit in the past and a new post appeared on his blog today dealing with the more general matter of Climate Change and it’s effect on Egypt’s monuments.
He tells how the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) have initiated restoration projects on the West Bank at Luxor, at the temples of Kom Ombo, Esna and Edfu and at sites at Memphis, Alexandria and Abu Mina. He says that if no effort is made to protect these sites, monuments there could be completely destroyed in a few decades.
Hawass also mentioned the restoration that is being undertaken on the Step Pyramid of Djoser and once again referred to the previously unknown shaft that has been discovered near the north-east corner of the pyramid.
The doctor describes the eleven shafts that were intended for the burial of King Djoser’s daughters and speculates on finding the tomb of the Step Pyramid’s architect, Imhotep in the unexcavated shaft. He asks:
“Why not also allow his architect Imhotep to be buried with him? Could it be possible that Imhotep was buried in the pyramid with his king?”
He hopes to find the answer to this question when the new shaft is excavated.
Another area that has never before been excavated is the west side of the pyramid and mentioned once again efforts by his team to restore the burial chamber:
Very soon, we will begin the next phase of work in the burial chamber of the pyramid. We will put plastic bags full of sand underneath Djoser’s sarcophagus, and cover the surface with sand, in order to protect it while we erect the scaffolding inside the chamber. Once the steel scaffolding is in place, we will begin the work of restoring the 29 meter tall burial chamber, and will leave the scaffolding permanently in the burial chamber to support it.
Read the article at Dr Hawass’ blog: Climate Change and Conservation in Egypt for more on these excavations including the steel reinforcing of the Sarapeum and other projects currently underway.
Restor7 photograph by kairoinfo4u CC By SA NC
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