The American Research Center in Eygpt
Conservation Projects Archive

Conservation Projects Archive

The American Research Center in Egypt has been actively helping to conserve Egyptian monuments since 1993. With funds generously provided by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in close collaboration with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), over fifty projects have now been completed. A select number of completed projects will be featured here in the coming weeks. A more extensive look at ARCE's past conservation work can be found in the new book, Preserving Egypt's Cultural Heritage: Conservation Work by the American Research Center in Egypt 1995-2005.

Click the project title to view description of the conservation work.

2010 was an exciting and busy year for ARCE. It began with ARCE joining with the Institute for Bioarchaeology and the American University in Cairo to host the first-ever scholarly conference on human remains in Egypt. Scholars from the United States, Egypt, Europe, South America and Japan participated in two days of papers, roundtables, and scholarly discussions.

ARCE’s large-scale conservation and training projects, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), continued at several sites throughout Egypt. A many-faceted project at the world heritage sites of Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple continued with significant progress... Read more>>
Fakhuri 18 JDIn response to a request from Dr. Zahi Hawass, then Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, ARCE carried out a six-week season of survey, photographic recording and wall painting cleaning tests at the Dayr al-Fakhuri near Esna.

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Monastic Cell Conservation
Director: Fr. Maximous el Antony
Completed January 2009

St paul_3_pptFrom 1997 through 2005 ARCE oversaw extensive conservation work at the Monastery of St. Paul, the Hermit. This monastery is located in the eastern desert mountains of Egypt near the Red Sea. The Cave Church of St. Paul marks the spot where St. Anthony, "the Father of Monasticism," and St. Paul, "the First Hermit," are believed to have met. It is a sacred place representing the very beginning of Christian monasticism.

06Luxor -_Roman_PaintingARCE partnered with Chicago House to document, clean and conserve remaining paintings in this late 3rd century Roman legionary shrine, from the reign of Diocletian, within the Luxor Temple. The murals were painted in fresco on lime plaster by a group of exceptionally skilled artists who were probably attached to Diocletian's imperial court.
Site Presentation
Director: Alaa El-Habaski, ARCE
June 2005 - August 2010
Objective: To survey both the Abu'l Muqashqish mosque and the municipal police station in Luxor prior to their demolition to make way for the newly excavated Avenue of the Sphinxes.
The mosque, built within the Luxor Temple, was damaged by fire in 2006. In 2007, SCA renovation work removed plaster from interior walls, revealing the archaeology of the standing building. In response to an unprecedented opportunity to record this important structure, Nairy Hampikian and May al-Abrashi were given permission to undertake a building study of the mosque in collaboration with the SCA.
ASL dome_min2The Mamluk mosque of Aslam al-Silahdar dates back to 1344 and is located in Darb al-Ahmar, within the old city walls of historic Cairo.  As no conservation action has been taken on the building since the 1920s, its condition has deteriorated.  Located at the connecting point between the recently conserved Bab Zuwayla and Al-Azhar Park, the mosque is ideal as a catalyst for local development through cultural tourism.  ARCE entered into an institutional partnership with the Aga Khan Cultural Services in Egypt (a local division of the Aga Khan Trust) to oversee and fund conservation work.
Conservation of Temple Foundations
Director: Betsy Bryan, The Johns Hopkins University
April 2007 - July 2009
Directors: ARCE staff and consultants; The Johns Hopkins University; the Franco-Egyptian Center
April 2007 - July 2010
Director: Melinda Hartwig, Georgia State University
April 2007 - May 2009
Director: Janice Kamrin, ARCE/SCA
December 2006 - August 2011
Director: Mark Lehner, Ancient Egypt Research Associates
2009-2011

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