Press. share.america.gov
Egypt’s iconic
landmarks — including the pyramids and the statue of the mythological Great
Sphinx — have always been a magnet for visitors. U.S.-Egyptian teamwork has
helped protect them, along with other historic sites that have been threatened
by rising groundwater. Because the
saline content in groundwater can erode the foundations of ancient structures,
experts were alarmed in 2006 when standing water appeared in the low-lying
areas of the Giza Necropolis, near the Great Sphinx and the newly discovered
City of the Pyramid Builders.
So Egyptian
authorities joined forces with the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) to lower the groundwater to a safe level, preventing further damage to
Egypt’s cultural treasures. Giza — like other low-lying areas — is vulnerable
to groundwater problems, so there may be more incidents putting Egypt’s
patrimony at risk.
Over a span of
several decades, USAID assistance valued at $100 million has helped Egypt
preserve and manage its antiquities. During this time, the government of Egypt
has worked with USAID on several large-scale engineering projects to protect
archaeological monuments from rising groundwater in Old Cairo, east and west
Luxor, and the Temple of Edfu.
Describing
Egypt’s ancient landmarks as “wonders,” USAID/Egypt Mission Director Sherry F.
Carlin stressed the need for efforts to preserve these sites, which represent
“an investment in both the past and the future.” “I am
consistently in awe at these monuments that have survived through the
millennia,” she said, “and am pleased that our shared commitment to protecting
Egypt’s most important archaeological sites ensures that they are around for
future generations to enjoy.”
The U.S.
government, through USAID, also supports training programs for Egyptian
archaeologists and works closely with Egypt to enhance the country’s
cultural-tourism sector. “Everyone [in
Egypt] knows someone who works in the tourism industry or who benefits from
tourists — or the foreign currency that tourists bring to Egypt,” Carlin said.
“Egyptians not only value the cultural aspects of their heritage, but also
understand that this heritage is a renewable resource that, properly managed,
can create jobs and income for generations to come.”
USAID is
currently working with its Egyptian partners to preserve significant cultural
destinations throughout Egypt, including Pharaonic civilization (3100 B.C.E. –
30 B.C.E.) in Esna, Luxor and Memphis, and early Coptic Christian settlements
(dating back to the 4th century C.E.) in the Nile Valley in Sohag.
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