The archaeological scene of 2007 was replete with exciting discoveries, hot debates and the launch of new museums. The date 7-7-2007 was much anticipated worldwide. The New Seven World Wonders were announced in Lisbon, Portugal with Egypt opting to be included as a guest of honor in the global online poll that launched a year earlier under the auspices of a private organization founded by Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber.The Egyptian Ministry of Culture refused to enter the Pyramids of Giza in the competition, arguing that the world wonder of all times is above rivalry. But while Egypt’s top archaeologist Zahi Hawass said that the competition reeked of conspiracy, others insisted that it was wrong to boycott the global event which could have been utilized to promote tourism.But a more heated war of words started in Nov.2007 when pools of underground water were seen close to the Sphinx and other archaeological sites at the Pyramids Plateau. Immediately a website was set up to draw the world’s attention to the issue. Bassam El Shammaa, an Egyptology researcher, started a campaign warning that the Sphinx might collapse within 60 days. Incensed, Hawass shot back saying that no one can make such a statement before conducting geological studies. But it seems the campaign had yielded fruit, for a few days following that tug-of-war, experts were seen surveying the area.There has been no shortage of archaeological discoveries this year. In addition to a number of temples and tombs, in April 2007 Hawass announced at a press conference that work was in full swing to uncover the mummies of Queen Hatshepsut, Antony and Cleopatra.Indeed, in July the mummy of the controversial Egyptian queen was uncovered at an international press conference along with that of Hatshepsut’s nurse that had been mistaken over the last century for that of the female royal. The identification of Hatshepsut marked the first use of DNA technology in archaeological research. A DNA unit was set up in the basement of the museum specifically for that purpose. The results of a DNA comparison with the mummy of Ahmose Nefertari, Hatshepsut’s grandmother, provided more evidence supporting the identity of Hatshepsut’s mummy. A radiology team from the National Research Center, Cairo, aided by the state-of the-art scanning technology gifted to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo by the National Geographic and Discovery Channel, was able to identify the mummy through a tooth that was found in one of the queen’s canopic jars. The tooth fitt into a gap in one of the jaws of the mummy in question. The validity of such DNA testing has, however, been disputed.From catacombs to sea beds, the underwater archaeology department announced in July it would launch the first survey ever of the Nile in search of ancient monuments. The focus of the survey is Upper Egypt where many ships loaded with merchandise and antiquities are believed to have sunk.But while underwater archaeologists discover more artifacts every day, officials have not decided as on a concept for a museum to display sunken treasures. On the ground, it’s looking much better, with operations underway to complete the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Pyramids area as well as the monotheistic museum in Tal El Amarna in Minya. The latter is the first in the world to mark monotheism, according to Zahi Hawass who said that the museum will be inaugurated in 2009.The saga to repossess Egypt’s stolen antiquities went full-throttle in 2007. Negotiations with France, helped the SCA retrieve locks of hair belonging to King Ramses as well as bandages and resin used to mummify the body, all of which were found on an online sale by the son of a French scientist who had kept the samples since the 1970s. Queen Nefertiti’s bust debacle with Germany was also in the limelight when the Germans cited safety concerns for refusing to lend it to Egypt temporarily to display at the opening of the Tal El Amarna Museum. Hawass ended the year with another one of his “explosive declarations when he called for a law requiring the payment of royalties whenever ancient Egyptian monuments were reproduced all over the world. Talk about pyramid schemes!
Scratching the surface: Archaeology highlights
