Egypt drops controversial restoration project for Giza pyramid

Egypt has scrapped a controversial plan to reinstall granite cladding on the Pyramid of Menkaure in Giza, the smallest of the three in the city.

The Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee, formed by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, unanimously objected to reinstalling the granite casing blocks that have been scattered around the base of the pyramid for centuries.

After extensive meetings and visits to the pyramid, the committee voted against the plan, “underlining the importance of maintaining the pyramid’s current state without alterations, given its exceptional universal and archaeological value”, the MPRC said.

Zahi Hawass, a former minister of antiquities who led the committee, had said it would be impossible to determine where each block had originally been.

Replacing them would also require cement, which would ruin the pyramid.

The committee agreed in principle to carry out archaeological excavations at the site, provided a comprehensive plan is submitted, the ministry said.

The project, jointly developed by the Egyptian government and Japanese archaeological experts, involved reconstructing the cladding from blocks that are around the pyramid.

Last month, Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Antiquities Council, called the plan “the project of the century”.

Several archeologists denounced the plan on social media, and called on Unesco to speak out against it.

Egyptologist Monica Hanna said: “All that is missing is covering the Pyramid of Menkaure with tiles. When will this absurdity in dealing with ancient Egyptian heritage stop?

“All international rules and principles of restoration prohibit such interventions.

“All archaeologists must act immediately.”