One of the achievements of which I am proudest is the progress that the SCA has made under my leadership toward protecting Egypt’s ancient monuments from the rising level of underground water throughout the country.

As the water table rises, moisture is drawn up into the stones of ancient buildings through capillary action. This badly weakens the structures, and many of Egypt’s greatest monuments could be threatened with collapse if action is not taken. At the following sites, the SCA has completed or is carrying out efforts to reduce the impact of the rising water table. I will share more information with you on each of these projects, and I hope that you will check back often to learn more about this important subject!

• The Great Sphinx at Giza and the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders
• The Temple of Hathor, Chapel of Seti I, and Mummification Temple at Mit Rahina
• El-Ashmunein
• Ehnasya, Beni Suef
• The Temple of Seti I at Abydos
• San El-Hagar in the Nile Delta
• The Temple of Esna
• Kom Ombo (a planning study is currently underway for a groundwater lowering project at this site)
• The Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan
• Kom El-Shuqafa, Alexandria
• Anfushi Necropolis, Alexandria
• El-Shatby Necropolis, Alexandria
• The Temples of Karnak and Luxor - these two iconic temples were in danger of complete collapse until the SCA began a major groundwater lowering effort, now completed, in cooperation with USAID, the American Research Center in Egypt, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, and Johns Hopkins University.
• The West Bank of the Nile at Luxor - a project to reduce groundwater levels around all of the major monuments of Luxor’s West Bank is underway, funded by USAID.