WATANI International
6 November 2011
Restoration of King Djoser’s Step Pyramid on the Saqqara necropolis resumed last month following a nine-month hiatus in the aftermath of the January uprising.
During his short tenure as secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), Mohamed Abdel-Fattah authorised the allocation of EGP3 million to resume the work. This fund will be sufficient to complete the required restoration of the pyramid’s inner chamber, which is at risk of collapse.
Dr Abdel-Fattah stressed that, fortunately, this was the only threat to the Step Pyramid’s structure and, and according to the inspection committee the pyramid was otherwise in good structural condition.
The deterioration of the pyramid was caused by climatic effects, environmental erosion factors and the leakage of subterranean water. The 1992 earthquake led to further weakening. The restoration plan includes consolidating the pyramid##s underground tunnels, monitoring the cracks, restoring the wall decorations and inspecting the natural ventilation inside the pyramid and the southern tomb.
Crucial stage
A year ago a structural repair and reinforcement system was put into practice. This involved installing a temporary structural support in preparation for more permanent reinforced steel rods to be inserted diagonally through the steps of the pyramid, knitting together the six levels.
Professor Hassan Fahmi, one of the consultants on the project, checked the condition of the pyramid and saw that it was still consolidated, but concluded that the restoration work should be resumed immediately in order to protect the structure of the oldest pyramid in history. Professor Fahmi reported in detail on the work necessary to renovate the pyramid.
Samir Abdel-Raouf, head of the restoration project, said that if work had not resumed some blocks could have become detached from the pyramid roof.
“These stones were given a temporary fix by using a pillow of air, but this required an immediate follow-up to avoid any sudden and unexpected fall of a block,” Dr Abdel-Maqsoud said. “The pyramid was in a really dreadful state before restoration began.”
The renovations will be in three successive phases. Mohamed al-Sheikh, head of the projects sector, said it would include strengthening dilapidated and broken stones and mending the face of the pyramid.
He added that the SCA was currently working on restoration work inside the pyramid, including corridors and a funeral chamber. At the front of the chamber is a 28-metre deep sarcophagus and funerary well. Renovators have also removed the debris that completely covered the sarcophagus, and have begun reinforcing ceilings in the pyramid.
Full support
During a meeting held last month at the SCA offices, the director of UNESCO’s cultural department, Tamara Twinasky, announced that the organisation would collaborate fully with the SCA to restore and preserve the archaeological sites listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
According to Dr Abdel-Fattah Dr Twinasky pledged UNESCO’s full support to continue with the restoration and development work now being carried out on the Memphis necropolis, which includes the Giza plateau, Abusir, Dahshur and Saqqara. This support will be especially directed at Dahshur and Saqqara, where work was meant to be completed earlier this year.
Dr Twinasky said that at the end of this month, a technical specialist and international consultant assigned by UNESCO would visit Egypt to inspect the restoration work being carried out on the Step Pyramid and if necessary provide advice.
The Step Pyramid is the oldest known pyramid in the world. It was designed by the architect Imhotep to hold the mummy of the Old-Kingdom king Djoser and preserve it for eternity. Djoser ruled Egypt in Third-Dynasty, his reign lasted from about 2668 to 2649 BC. The pyramid is 254 feet tall and has seven large steps or platforms.
Djoser##s tomb, as is the case with most other pyramids, is located deep beneath the pyramid, about 95 feet below the present-day surface. Several of the walls were inlaid with vivid blue tiles. When in 1934 Jean-Philippe Lauer excavated the site he found a mummified left foot, all that is believed to be left of King Djoser.
At the time of its completion the Step Pyramid was the largest building ever constructed, demonstrating a sophisticated and dramatic leap in architectural size and style.