DOI Artikel:
Griffith, Francis Ll.: Progress of Egyptology: archaeology, hieroglyphic studies, etc
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12583#0023
Aechaeology, Hieroglyphic Studies, Etc.
9
graphs—on the fall of the eleven columns, and ib. 193, the same writer's
account of the necessary taking to pieces of other columns. Ehblich,
ib. 200, reports—with illustrations—on the consolidation of the west
pylon in the Hypostyle Hall. See also Sphinx, v. 62.
But other accidents have occurred besides that at Karnak, though none
so serious. There has been a fall of rock in the tomb of Sety, two roofing
slabs have dropped at Edfu, and a stone has fallen in the great temple of
Abydos. Very little has ever been done to repair such monuments since
they were first discovered, and for some time to come they will be a
considerable charge on the budget.
The out-of-door staff of the Department of Antiquities is employed in
protecting the tombs, cemeteries, and town sites, the number of which
must be steadily diminishing. Last year the worst robberies going on
were at the sites since rescued for science by the excavations of Mr.
Eeisner, and at G-izeh. Many Old Kingdom antiquities were on the
market. Illicit excavations are known to have been carried on during
the past year by the professional tomb robbers of Abydos, at Naq'-ed-Der,
and at El Zawiyeh (near Dronkeh); probably also at other places, since
these worthies are reported to have been long absent from home. The
Beduin in and near Gizeh have dug at Dahshur, where they came into
conflict with the guards. The people of Isment have robbed Moallah,
Kom el Ahmar, Esneh, and Gebelen. A group of Arabs, about fifty in
number, worked out a small New Kingdom cemetery opposite Mellawi;
two of the Museum guards attempted to stop them, but were obliged to
retreat, one with his head cut open. Digging at Kurneh has, it is
believed, been stopped. At no place now—except perhaps one—is there
reason to think that the guards connive at illicit digging; the pro-
fessional tomb robbers have been driven further afield, to the unguarded
and less known cemeteries. The stocks of the dealers show that a
cemetery of the time of Akhenaten, and at least one prehistoric cemetery,
have been largely worked, but the position of these is not known.
Eshmunen is unfortunately outside the jurisdiction of the department;
there the Daira Sanieh is master, and the destruction by means of sebakh
digging is going on apace.
The following advertisement of the Catalogue of the Cairo Museum has
been circulated in French :—
" The General Catalogue of the Egyptian antiquities in the Cairo
Museum is intended to facilitate for specialists the study of the various
9
graphs—on the fall of the eleven columns, and ib. 193, the same writer's
account of the necessary taking to pieces of other columns. Ehblich,
ib. 200, reports—with illustrations—on the consolidation of the west
pylon in the Hypostyle Hall. See also Sphinx, v. 62.
But other accidents have occurred besides that at Karnak, though none
so serious. There has been a fall of rock in the tomb of Sety, two roofing
slabs have dropped at Edfu, and a stone has fallen in the great temple of
Abydos. Very little has ever been done to repair such monuments since
they were first discovered, and for some time to come they will be a
considerable charge on the budget.
The out-of-door staff of the Department of Antiquities is employed in
protecting the tombs, cemeteries, and town sites, the number of which
must be steadily diminishing. Last year the worst robberies going on
were at the sites since rescued for science by the excavations of Mr.
Eeisner, and at G-izeh. Many Old Kingdom antiquities were on the
market. Illicit excavations are known to have been carried on during
the past year by the professional tomb robbers of Abydos, at Naq'-ed-Der,
and at El Zawiyeh (near Dronkeh); probably also at other places, since
these worthies are reported to have been long absent from home. The
Beduin in and near Gizeh have dug at Dahshur, where they came into
conflict with the guards. The people of Isment have robbed Moallah,
Kom el Ahmar, Esneh, and Gebelen. A group of Arabs, about fifty in
number, worked out a small New Kingdom cemetery opposite Mellawi;
two of the Museum guards attempted to stop them, but were obliged to
retreat, one with his head cut open. Digging at Kurneh has, it is
believed, been stopped. At no place now—except perhaps one—is there
reason to think that the guards connive at illicit digging; the pro-
fessional tomb robbers have been driven further afield, to the unguarded
and less known cemeteries. The stocks of the dealers show that a
cemetery of the time of Akhenaten, and at least one prehistoric cemetery,
have been largely worked, but the position of these is not known.
Eshmunen is unfortunately outside the jurisdiction of the department;
there the Daira Sanieh is master, and the destruction by means of sebakh
digging is going on apace.
The following advertisement of the Catalogue of the Cairo Museum has
been circulated in French :—
" The General Catalogue of the Egyptian antiquities in the Cairo
Museum is intended to facilitate for specialists the study of the various