CAIRO: A decade after underwater archaeology was established in Egypt, experts discuss the future of the field and the ideal ways to turn the submarine exhibits into a tourist attraction both locally and internationally.
This was the topic of a two-day seminar titled “The Future of Sunken Antiquities which was held from March 20 to 21 at the Opera House Grounds Supreme Council of Culture.
Participants debated how Egypt can benefit from the large number of statues, jewelry, columns and other antiquities recovered over the past few years from the old ports of Alexandria and Abu Kir, the two major seats of the Ptolomite Egypt.
Some of the experts, including the founders of underwater archaeology in Egypt, underlined how the success of last year’s Paris exhibit displaying a collection of these rare items, should push antiquities officials to create a permanent underwater gallery inside Egypt.
Gaballah Ali Gaballah, head of the Supreme Council of Culture’s archaeological committee, said that it was natural for Egypt to have that wealth of underwater treasures because since time immemorial movement and trade were not restricted to land but also flourished on sea.
Participants pointed out that underwater archaeology began at the turn of the last century, but that the major discoveries were made by sheer coincidence.
Thus they unanimously agreed on the importance of carrying out a comprehensive survey of all potential sites along the Red Sea and the Mediterranean coast to direct their future strategy.
Besides using modern technology to identify new sites, one research paper by Mohamed Abdel Ghani also highlighted that the writings and documents of classic geographers and globe-trotters could be used as clues to guide researchers and excavators to areas that might not have been on the research agenda before.
Said Dr Ashraf Abdel Raouf: “The surveys conducted in Abu Kir resulted in the discovery of Mynothus and Heraklion, two ancient cities we believed were mythical until excavations brought them to light.
Some 6,000 artifacts have been recovered from ancient Alexandria that sank under the waters of the coastal city’s Eastern port and from Abu Kir port, including the remains of Bonaparte’s fleet that went down following the sea battle at Abu Kir.
But Ibrahim Darwish, one of the founders of underwater archaeology and head of the Museum of Alexandria, believes that experts must revise the reasons for setting up an underwater museum.
“The majority of what we consider real exhibits have been pulled out of the water. What is left is just wreckage, debris and rubble that would only interest specialists not the general public, he explained. “So when we think of setting up an underwater museum we should also consider what type of exhibits the museum would shelter.
Archaeologist Alaa Mahrus said that some of the recovered items should be exhibited locally and as part of mobile exhibitions like the one now moving from Paris to Berlin.
He added: “As for what’s left underwater, it is worthwhile to keep it since it will encourage diving tourism where people can see the ancient cities in their original locations.
Dr Emad Khalil, however, lamented that despite the many suggestions, no steps were taken to actually set up the museum.
“The last workshop we organized in Alexandria in June 2006 under the auspices of Unesco showed that there were differences of opinion regarding the very concept of an underwater museum.
Khalil stressed that any successful museum should provide both knowledge and entertainment.
“The success measure is that people should go back and visit it more than once. It does not really matter if the potential museum is underwater or on land. Most important is that it must attract visitors, he added.
