Fayoum Area

(Since this could be filed under either Cairo or Middle Egypt, it is accessible under both menus)

Gazra

Almasry Alyoum has reported illegal digging at Gazra.  From a report dated 30th March:

Another watchman, Samir Abdel Dayim, said the armed groups had exploited the security vacuum and attacked the area several times, digging for artifacts all night long and leaving behind dozens of deep holes.

The site is also encroached by a modern cemetry.

Ihnasya el Medinah

This site is reported to have been damaged, but there is little information.

El Lahun

The El Lahun Survey Project blog records that some damage has been reported with traces of illicit digging.I

In a separate development the Ministry has shut down the Lahun project run by an Egyptian team after Youm carried pictures demonstrating shocking treatment of finds.

Karanis (Kom Aushim)

The El Lahun Survey Project blog also reports that attempts to loot the Karanis magazine were unsuccessful and that the site is now protected by both SCA officials and local people.

Last modified: February 1st, 2011

2 responses to “Fayoum Area”

  1. Dr G. J. Tassie

    It should also be noted that so called legal destruction of archaeological sites is still progressing on the north shore of Lake Qarun. I have heard the Porto Faiyum are going ahead with there destruction of hundreds of archaeological sites even though Khaled Said found a vast amount of material there. This is a criminal act against the world’s cultural heritage on an industrial scale so that the owners of this company can make money out of this beautiful landscape.

  2. Dr G. J. Tassie

    As far as I can see you say nothing about the extensive looting that was conducted at Gurob last year, where local villagers had dug hundreds of pits up to 5.0 m deep. Many of these pits were in a previously unexplored area of the site, where poorer tombs are located. Pits were also dug into the Harem Palace, which actually helped the excavators understand its construction. You should contact Dr. Ian Shaw about this and he will gladly give you more information. Last autumn he gave a lecture on this subject at the Dutch Institute Cairo.

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