Monastic Cell Conservation

Director: Fr. Maximous el Antony
Completed January 2009

In 2004, renovations at this working monastery on the Red Sea coast unearthed remains of an earlier church and monastic cells beneath a 14th century church floor. Archaeological recording and conservation work was subsequently carried out, and in 2008 a glass floor was installed over the conserved remains and interior lighting was fitted to create a display space below the floor of the present-day church. An information panel about the display, in English and Arabic, was created in early 2009.

The monastery is a popular destination for both foreign tourists and Egyptian pilgrims with an interest in the lives of the ancient monks who first populated the desert.

This means of preservation and display is an innovative example of site management that enables both secular and religious visitors to see from above the early monastic remains preserved below.

The three facets of the project--archaeology, conservation and display of the early monastic structures--will be published as a case study in conservation and site presentation.