The archaeological information for ancient Egyptian, Coptic and Islamic sites in a governorate is collected from a variety of sources including academic publications, reports from the local inspectorate offices (taftish) and collaboration with foreign missions working in Egypt. By filling out datasheets for individual sites, these foreign missions ensure that the system contains accurate and up to date information, in particular on threats affecting the site which will aid their future preservation. The datasheets provide brief historical introductions to each site and a detailed description of the archaeological remains found there. Lists of missions that have worked in a particular site are drawn from the SCA Foreign Missions Department and collected through library research. Any conservation work done at a site is also described and brief bibliographies provided. This information is intended to provide cultural resource managers, land planners, SCA personnel and other concerned parties with the tools needed to properly evaluate a site's current condition and historical importance and to take appropriate steps to facilitate its further protection and preservation.
(For a blank datasheet, click here)
Site visits are an important part of the work of the archaeology team. During these visits, the current condition of a site is evaluated, and a note made of all current and potential threats. These include a high water table, leading to the disintegration of mud brick remains and the formation of salts, urban encroachment within or near the borders of a site (housing, electricity poles and roads) and agricultural expansion. The status of archaeological remains are checked and compared to older descriptions or excavation photographs. Often, nothing but overgrown trenches remain and a large part of excavated mud brick remains have disintegrated, or the stone removed and reused. New GPS points are taken to verify site borders. The EAIS photographer accompanies the archaeologist on each site visit, creating a detailed photographic record of the site.
Research and site visits for the registered ancient Egyptian and Islamic sites of eleven governorates have been finished so far, and the archaeology team has started work on Gizah and Marsa Matruh governorates (as of July 2007).
For a sample of our work, see the Achievements to Date.
For further information or if you are interested in helping us with the research on a voluntary basis in Cairo or from home, contact the archaeology unit coordinator: sara.kayser@eais.org.eg.
