The Rape of Tutankhamun

As a student going to study my masters in Egyptology, I've been reading quite extensively on ancient Egypt. This book's title is originally got me hooked. What I did not expect was a case for the crisis in conservation in Egypt. The Romer's comment on the excavation of KV5 by Kent Weeks (a man I have heard of in archaeology). It turns out that Weeks' excavation techniques are actually speeding up the tombs rate of decay! Many people are not aware of the situation at hand. Read this, get supprtive of Egyptian conservation and don't believe that tourists are just the ones impacting the ancient monuments.

In this piece, the Romers take their intimate knowledge and feelings for the Valley of the Kings and put them into the most elequent plea one can ever read. They bring to our attention the shoddy excavation techniques currently being used in the Valley, particularily in the excavation of KV5, and the perilous state of practically all of the Valley's tombs. Even the tomb of Tutankhamun has experienced minor flooding, and the grand tomb of Seti I is on the verge of complete annilation. The pictures of Seti's tomb had me in tears, and the written description of its peril only made those tears flow more freely. I find it revolting how notable Egyptologists see the contents of this book as untrue, and I feel they do so because they don't want to admit/be responsible for just how true it really is. Yes, the book is sad, but if you love Egypt as much as I do, it is entirely too necessary for you to read it. If I had an address, I'd write the Romers and tell them how this piece has impacted me. Since I cannot, I will write now that one person listening is all it takes to rescue these tombs, this history, our history. I am listening. You