Date: Thursday, May 11, 2011, 7:30pm

Chapter: Portland, Oregon

Presenter: John Shearman, ARCE Associate Director Luxor, Egypt; and Dr. Mansour Buriak, Director General of Luxor Antiquities, Supreme Council of Antiquities

Location: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 238, Portland State University

Free admission and open to the public. Free parking in PSU parking structures after 7:00 p.m.

Description: Luxor is one of the most iconic antiquities sites in Egypt and the world. ARCE supports not only excavation but, just as importantly, the conservation of the antiquities that have already been discovered.

The vast and unique temple complex of Karnak has been in existence for over 4,000 years. Like so many other antiquity sites in Egypt, the conditions have changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Without intervention, it and many other sites would continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate. ARCE, with funding from the American people through USAID, is a major player in the conservation of these sites.

The Ground Water Lowering Response Project is a complex series of programs that ARCE administers in the Luxor area. John Shearman, who directs ARCE’s work in Luxor, will discuss these programs during his presentation. These projects include the conservation of damaged pylons, walls and columns in Luxor and Karnak Temples; conservation of a side chapel and installation of walkways in Khonsu Temple; the preservation and documentation of Talatat blocks from the reign of Akhenaten; the cleaning and maintenance of sacred lakes; and the training of Egyptian conservators. These projects are bringing to light new knowledge that will impact our understanding of these iconic sites.

About the Speaker: John Shearman brings his extensive experience working with culturally diverse Middle Eastern staffs to his current position as Associate Director of ARCE’s many projects currently underway in Luxor. He has managed several projects associated with historic preservation. With his record of managing large-scale projects, he brings considerable experience to the numerous conservation projects spanning the New Kingdom through the Late Period of Pharaonic rule in the Luxor and Karnak temple complexes. These projects are bringing to light new materials and inscriptions that will impact our understanding of these iconic sites. Before joining ARCE full-time, his work in Egypt included providing oversight for the construction of the flood control prototype to protect the tombs of Rameses I and Seti I in the Valley of the Kings, researching the Tomb of Isis, and surveying the Valley of the Queens. He also served as a member of ARCE’s Oversight Committee for the Egyptian Antiquities Project (EAP). His company, Shearman International Industries, specialized in providing construction management, including management of archeologically sensitive projects.