Damage to Seti I obelisk top

Sadly we have to report that sporadic ad hoc damage, increasingly by ‘desert tourists’ is becoming an increasing threat to cultural heritage sites outside of Egypt’s main centres.  The West Bank Aswan is no exception and it is with regret that we have to inform of an attempt made to remove inscriptions from the Seti I obelisk top at Gebel Gulab – the only ‘monumental’ stone artefact with ‘royal’ inscriptions of the New Kingdom known in the quarries (damage observed Nov ’07).  The obelisk top has now, regrettably, been temporarily removed from the quarries to a secure place on the West Bank, at Gubbet el-Hawa, until an effective site management plan can be implemented to protect these quarries.  This exercise was undertaken under the auspices of the SCA and with kind and generous assistance from the German Institute, Elephantine Island, Aswan.

Text by Elizabeth Bloxam

An attempt to remove royal inscriptions from the obelisk top by sawing, Gebel Gulab, West Bank Aswan – as first observed in November 2007. (photo: E. Bloxam).
Moving the obelisk top: first phase - removing the object from the Gebel Gulab silicified sandstone quarries. March ’08 (photo: E. Bloxam).
Temporary resting place of the obelisk top by the ticket office at Gubbet el-Hawa, West Bank, Aswan. March ’08 (photo: E. Bloxam).