A battle of two cities
Can the modern city of Alexandria grow without obliterating the last vestiges of its history? Nevine El-Aref investigates
Conflict between the urban developers of Alexandria on the one hand and conservationist and antiquities officials on the other is a familiar story. Whether the plan is to construct a new bridge, expand a residential area, build a summer resort or elongate the Cornish, the question is always at which party's expense the development be.
Over the last 20 years, the urban development of Alexandria has been repeatedly and unexpectedly interrupted by archaeological discoveries. Rows erupt over a sites' relative importance. Property interests inevitably clash with heritage concerns.
The first major row was in 1986, when the newly formed New Communities Authority started to build the third largest summer resort at the time, Marina Al-Alamein, following the success of the Maraqia and Marabella villages. While levelling the land, ruins of a complete Graeco-Roman residential area complete with baths, bridges, roads, temples, churches, wine presses and graveyards were discovered.
As a result of the discovery work was halted and excavations were conducted which unearthed a large section of the ancient residential area. A number of hypogeum tombs were also found at the site. To protect this unique find a huge fence was erected around the archaeological site and the new resort was built three kilometres down the road.
The second case was in 1998 when the city of the dead, a tomb complex described by the Greek historian Strabo when he visited Egypt in 30 BC, was discovered while constructing an access ramp for Al-Qabbari flyover connecting Alexandria's western harbour with the desert road. After four years of discussions and a rescue excavation, a plan was approved to resolve the problem that extended the curve of the last stage of the bridge to a point near the Alexandria harbour. All buildings hindering construction under the new plan were demolished.
The third incident unfolded earlier this year during the construction of a hotel in the Mustafa Kamel area. Workers stumbled across the remnants of Ptolemaic tombs and a temple as well as bunkers used by allied troops during World War II. Construction plans have been put on hold until further excavation clears the area of any valuable objects.
"To stop any further encroachment of urbanisation against antiquities, Law 1983 needs to be properly enforced and all its loopholes that make violation possible must be reviewed," declared Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, head of antiquities in Lower Egypt. According to the law, any deliberate, complete or partial destruction of an antiquity is punishable by five to seven years imprisonment and a LE3,000 to LE50,000 fine. Those found guilty of digging at an archaeological site without a governmental permit are subject to imprisonment and a LE5,000 to LE50,000 fine. "This penalty is not equivalent to the violation," said Abdel-Maqsoud who pointed out that the law does not protect underwater antiquities because it was issued before the underwater discoveries were made. "So it has been too difficult to protect underwater artefacts. Especially when the Alexandria governorate six months ago tried to lengthen the Cornish in the area of the eastern harbour by filling a part of the sea shore with earth. If this takes place the site of the Ptolemaic royal quarter will be destroyed," asserted Abdel-Maqsoud. He added that if it had not been for Governor Abdel-Rehim's commitment to protecting antiquities, the situation would be critical because there are presently no laws or regulations protecting underwater discoveries.
Abdel-Maqsoud explained that "Antiquities in Alexandria are of a distinguished nature and need special management. Urban development should be pursued but not at the expense of our archaeological treasures." He suggested that a special council for Alexandria -- like the one established in Luxor -- would be helpful in creating a balance between speedy urbanisation and the protection of Alexandria's heritage.
Another solution to protect Alexandria's monuments, according to Abdel-Maqsoud is to develop the already discovered archaeological sites and open them to the public. At the same time more sites could be excavated to unearth buried treasures and declare the areas as antiquity zones.
The Kom Al-Dikka's archaeological site was saved at the beginning of 1960s when a Polish team started excavation work there. The site is now the city centre's green lung and has become a tourist attraction which draws over a thousand visitors every year. "One can only hope that this example could be followed to protect the archaeological sites that are within the city zone," Abdel-Maqsoud concluded.
"In the near future the situation will be brighter," Culture Minister Farouk Hosni told Al-Ahram Weekly. He pointed out that a new antiquities law, which is now awaiting parliament's approval, would change the whole situation and protect more of Egypt's antiquities. "We are now trying to protect the newly discovered artefacts by exhibiting them in museums such as the Alexandria National Museum, recently inaugurated by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak and President Hosni Mubarak, as well as establishing other museums in Alexandria such as the Mosaic and Naval museums."
