- Title: EGYPT: ANCIENT QUARRY DISCOVERED NEAR CAIRO
- Date: 16th March 2004
- Summary: (L!1) NEAR CAIRO, EGYPT (MARCH 11, 2004) (REUTERS) TOURISTS QUEUEING TO SEE QUARRY QUARRY, TOURISTS AT QUARRY (5 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF EGYPTIAN SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES DR. ZAHI HAWASS SAYING "When we did our site management project at this site we made major important discoveries because we took 100 cubic metres of sand from the site and therefore major discoveries appeared. As a matter of fact we discovered the harbour that once connected the river Nile at Aswan to the north with the temple of Karnak at Luxor and this harbour we have to imagine thousands years ago they use to take all the obelisks from here after cutting it and shaping it transport it through the Nile" CLOSE UPS OF STONES INSIDE THE QUARRY (3 SHOTS) WIDE SHOTS OF QUARRY (4 SHOTS) CLOSE UP STONES IN QUARRY (4 SHOTS) NEAR CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE) (REUTERS) PYRAMIDS AT SUNSET (3 SHOTS)
- Embargoed: 31st March 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NEAR CAIRO, EGYPT
- City:
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Business,History
- Reuters ID: LVA3IJQOB39HE1NQ3SGB9BCXSC38
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Ancient quarry discovered near Cairo, Egypt.
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the country's first quarry, the stones of which were used to build temples as well as the famous pyramids.
The discovery was made at the finished obelisk in Aswan located about 600 miles south of Cairo. Ancient Egyptians used stones from the quarry to build obelisks for the temple of Karnak and Luxor.
Spokesman Dr Zahi Hawass explains: "When we did our site management project at this site we made major important discoveries because we took 100 cubic metres of sand from the site and therefore major discoveries appeared. As a matter of fact we discovered the harbour that once connected the river Nile at Aswan to the north with the temple of Karnak at Luxor and this harbour we have to imagine thousands years ago they use to take all the obelisks from here after cutting it and shaping it transport it through the Nile."
Archaeologists also discovered stone carvings in some of the stones at the end of the harbour. One scene depicted dolphins swimming in the water. According to Hawass this proves that people from the Mediterranean were working with the Egyptians to cut obelisks.
Another important discovery that was made, was an inscription dedicated to King Tut Mouss III. The description says that the king asked his architect to cut obelisks for a temple of his father Amon Ra.
Each year thousands of tourists flock to the sites of Egypt, the most famous of all the pyramids. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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