Egyptian and Japanese archaeologists in Cairo have initiated a momentous collaborative project that aims to restore the exterior granite casing on one of Giza's most famous structures, the pyramid of King Menkaure.
However, its announcement has garnered some criticisms from Egyptologists, with one expert calling the project an "absurdity."
Dr. Mostafa Waziry Announces the 'Project of the Century'
The renovation project launched on the smallest out of the main three pyramids located on the iconic Egyptian Necropolis was first announced through a video statement by Dr. Mostafa Waziry, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, dubbing it the "project of the century."
In the Facebook video, he described the initiative as "a gift from Egypt to the modern world". He will coincide with the would-be opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, serving as the main facility that will offer the "first complete viewing" of the completed project.
Waziry explained that there are over 124 pyramids built across Egypt but only one among them was known to have been encased in an outer shell made out of granite blocks. That particular structure was the pyramid constructed for King Menkaure, dated somewhere in 2,150 BC.
He added that only the bottom five to eight remain out of the original sixteen to eighteen rows of granite block casings. How most of it fell is still unknown to the archaeologists, but some believe it was shed some 800 years ago.
That said, most of these casings that fell off are still within the vicinity of the pyramid's base and are partially buried or completely buried.
The plan, according to Waziry, is to then methodically dig up these pieces of the outer shell out from the sand and reinstall them on the structure, which could also help them come across other sand-engulfed ancient artifacts during the process.
Despite Waziry's optimism regarding the project, other experts have expressed their skepticism and displeasure about it.
The Alleged 'Absurdity' of the Egyptian Pyramid Renovation Project
In the comment section of Waziry's video announcement, archaeologists have voiced their concerns.
One notable remake came from Egyptologist Monica Hanna, who wrote and asked: "Impossible! The only thing missing was to add tiling to the pyramid of Menkaure! When are we going to stop the absurdity in the management of Egyptian heritage?"
"All international principles on renovations prohibit such interventions,' Hanna added, calling on all archaeologists to 'mobilize immediately," she continued.
While some other commentators resorted to snarky remarks, one user described the project as akin to "straightening" the Tower of Pisa and another jokingly said: "Rather than tiles, why not wallpaper the pyramids?"
In addition to the snide and vitriol, the former Director of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector Dr. Mohamed Abd El-Maqsoud also pieced in his insights on the project.
He told CBS News that the archaeologists assigned to the initiative should first meticulously verify if the fallen parts were of the structure, saying, "Some of [the casing] belong to the funerary temple, some were never used because the king died, and his son didn't complete the project."
In response to this, Waziry told the news outlet that they are indeed in the research phase of the project and will promptly share the results of the investigation "with an international committee" once the information is at hand.
He continued by saying that the blocks will not be reinstalled "until the study is completed," estimating that the entire project would take about three years to finish.
