Tut Tomb Closure Could Lead to KV62 Replica for Tourists
Tourism is a massive industry in Egypt, thanks to the country’s venerable past – it accounts for 11% of GDP, and creates jobs for around 12% of the total national workforce. Chief among Egypt’s antiquarian attractions are the tombs of the pharaohs, the vast network of lavishly decorative burial chambers for its ancient rulers spread across the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, such as KV62 – the final resting place of Tutankhamun. So why, then, is the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities calling for them to be closed?
The Council have been faced with an almighty catch-22. The tombs are extremely fragile and poorly ventilated; with so many tourists funneling through them every year, the quantity of humidity and fungus generated through breath and sweat is gradually eroding the soft stone of the chambers, slowly destroying paintings and carvings thousands of years old. “This means that the tombs could disappear in between 150 and 500 years,” warns Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, in a statement.
“A team of experts is currently using laser technology to examine the tombs in order to build the replicas which would then open to visitors in a place near the Valley of the Kings.” - Zahi Hawass
It’s a similar problem to that faced by many fine examples of cave art around the world. So what’s the solution? In the short term, expedients such as improved ventilation (a project to improve ventilation at the Great Pyramid of Giza, for similar reasons, was undertaken in the early 90s). In the long term, the only feasible expedient might be a similar one to that settled upon at cave complexes such as Lascaux and Altamira – building exact replicas nearby. “A team of experts is currently using laser technology to examine the tombs in order to build the replicas,” adds Hawass, “which would then open to visitors in a place near the Valley of the Kings.” Unsurprisingly the most popular tombs are among the first slated for closure, including those of Tutankhamun, Nefertari and Seti I – so if you want to see the real things, best get to Egypt soon. Visitor numbers are becoming restricted though, so don’t hold your breath (No, actually do hold your breath. Ah, you get the point).
If you're serious about preserving the wonders of antiquity, however, you might want to do the right thing by the boy king, and visit Virtual King Tut instead.
Picture by Michael Reeve. All rights reserved.
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Although to be expected, this does sound a bit weird after the just recent opening of the Horemheb tomb. Also, if they are closing Tutankhamun's tomb, where will his mummy - not that long ago given a new casket/coffin that only shows his head and feet to the public - go? Will be King Tut left behind in KV62 - getting pretty lonely, with only a scholar dropping by once in a while - or will Tutankhamun's remains be moved to KV62bis?
The tomb of Nefertiti has not been discovered yet. Dr. Zahi Hawass announced recently that he has a pretty good idea where it is. Among the tombs suggested for the construction of a replica is the Tomb of Nefertari (QV66) in the Valley of the Queens. Nefertari was the Great Royal Wife of Ramses the Great. Her name is often confused with that of the Great Royal Wife of Akhenaten. The Tomb of Nefertari is the most beautiful in the Valley of the Queens. It was restored at great expense with the help of the Getty Conservation Institute and briefly opened to the public. Now is only available for viewing to the rich and famous.
Source: http://www.drhawass.com/blog/protecting-valley-kings
Good spot there Ben, I meant Nefertari! I've changed it now. Will the Egyptian authorities be turning away the rich and the famous from the tombs too when they close? It's hard to see them being satisfied with visiting replicas...
Big problem. I do think the tombs should be closed to the general public to save them (especially since I've seen people touching the walls, brushing against them with backpacks, etc). And as far as the rich go, well, at least their $ could be used to preseve them. But on the other hand, no way would I ever travel all the way to Egypt just to see a fake tomb. If it's a replica, why travel all that way? The Egyptians have quite a problem there...they need the $ but who wants to spend the time and hassle for a replica?
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