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Egyptological Congress Hears Call for Preservation of Sites

Fewer than 200 people came to the Third International Congress of Egyptology in Toronto September 4–11, 1982, instead of the expected 700–800. But this did not affect the high quality of the papers presented there. Instead, the low attendance reflected, primarily, tightened academic budgets and the relatively high cost of registration and attendance.

As one participant noted, although the Congress was abbreviated as ICE throughout the Skyline Hotel, the atmosphere was definitely warm. There were speakers from the United States, Canada, Germany and France; it was especially gratifying to hear a paper by an Egyptian scholar followed by a presentation of an Israeli scholar, both warmly received.

The grand old man of Egyptian archaeology, former Director of Field Archaeology in the Egyptian Antiquities Department, Labib Habachi, received a standing ovation—the only one at the Congress—for his paper on the need to survey and excavate, as well as to preserve ancient sites, especially in the Nile Delta, before they are permanently obliterated by the encroachments of modern civilization.

Habachi called on foreign Egyptological foundations as well as local ones to assist in the work. He decried illicit digging, the destruction of monuments and the smuggling of finds out of the country.

Habachi referred to Georges Foucart’s inspection reports of ancient remains seen by him in 1893 and 1894. Many of these remains have partially or completely disappeared, Habachi said.