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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 21 - 27 September 2000 Issue No. 500
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Development Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Special Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Protecting the past
By Nevine El-ArefThe images are becoming too familiar. Urban development is interrupted by unexpected archaeological discoveries in sites where developmental work is in progress.
A recurrence of the story involves the Al-Darrassa area, next to Al-Hussein University Hospital, where a multi-storey parking structure is being built as part of an overall plan to upgrade Fatimid Cairo and turn the area into an open-air museum of Islamic beits, sabils and madrassas (old homes, water supply centres and schools).
To relieve traffic congestion, a two-way tunnel is under construction to substitute for the Al-Azhar bridge, connecting Salah Salem Street with Ataba and Opera Squares.
The main streets of Al-Azhar and Al-Muizz are to be pedestrianised.
Work began at full steam two years ago, continuing without much hassle until two weeks ago, when workers came upon what is believed to be the remains of Cairo's Fatimid wall and a military observation post.
The new find has revived a much-debated issue: Is urban development to be pursued at the expense of an archaeologically-rich site or vice versa? The question has triggered endless quarrels between antiquities officials, who want to excavate the site, and municipal officials, who want to forge ahead with the construction.
"We do not object to having a project like that. But since we are dealing with an extremely sensitive area in the heart of the city, prior tests to check whether the area has antiquities or not are urgently needed," said Sayed El-Kassabi, an archaeological consultant at the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).
He pointed out that the Islamic monuments permanent committee had approved the project, which includes the construction of the parking structure, but only after the completion of the SCA's inspection.
Magdi Suleiman, director of the Al-Azhar archaeological area, said that despite the discovery, the Arab Contractors Company is operating its mechanical equipment and trucks and continuing construction work without heeding the rich archaeological value of the site.
"Any construction work should be halted for the time being pending the completion of the SCA's archaeological inspection and ascertaining that the area is free of antiquities," said El-Kassabi.
For their part, officials of the Arab Contractors Company deny they are abusing the archaeological site, claiming their construction work is being tailored to the nature of the area.
Hussein Fahmi, the engineer supervising the construction of the parking facility, said that two years ago, when the Cairo governorate made plans for the project, there were no archaeological remains known to exist in that plot of land and an 8,000-square-metre area was allocated for the structure. During the excavation work, however, the remains of Salaheddin El-Ayyubi's (Saladin's) wall were uncovered.
In order to protect the find, Fahmi said, the size of the land allocated for the parking facility was reduced to 4,200 square metres. "This is not our first time to collaborate with the SCA and we always abide by its regulations. So, why are they attacking our construction work which has not even started yet? What is happening now is preliminary work to lay down the foundations of the parking structure," he said.
To put an end to the controversy, Gaballa Ali Gaballa, secretary- general of the SCA, called for an urgent meeting of the Islamic monuments permanent committee, during which a new plan is expected to be approved, taking into consideration the rich archaeological nature of the site as well as the national gains from the project.
"This is a national project that cannot be put on hold," said Gaballa, adding that the committee meeting will be held at the end of this week.
Solutions to the problem will be discussed at the meeting, Gaballa said, with the main recommendation being the removal of the archaeological remains. If this proves difficult, changing the location of the parking facility, in collaboration with the Cairo governorate, will be the only alternative, he said.
"If a monument is taken out of its original place, then this is the end of it. This is bound to ruin the historical fabric of a hidden part of Cairo," said an antiquities inspector who requested anonymity. He suggested that any discovered antiquities should remain in situ and the main street, slated to be a pedestrian zone, converted into a tourist attraction spot.
