According to one Egyptologist, groundwater has already affected some excavations and urgent measures are needed to protect the ancient relics, such as the Sphinx, that lie on the plateau.

Reda Mohamed el-Damak, director of the Center of Studies and Designs for Water Projects at Cairo University, told Kyodo News Agency that his latest measurements had shown that groundwater is currently just four metres beneath the Sphinx.

Poorly drained irrigated farmland, rubbish dumped in canals and a lack of effective sewage systems in the area are all to blame, according to Damak, who is spearheading efforts to protect the precious antiquities.

‘We offered an optimal and permanent solution to Zahi Hawas [secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities],’ he said. ‘We proposed to build a 30-metre deep diaphragm wall in order to isolate the depression beneath the Sphinx and drain off the water into smaller wells to reduce the level of the water table.’

As Geographical went to press, the Supreme Council of Antiquities was having discussions with a Swedish consultancy about the feasibility of this solution.


March 2008