Dear Friends of Egypt,

Many of you already know me from my numerous appearances on television, in documentaries and from my many books. Some of you may have even attended lectures I have given throughout the world about a subject I love deeply, the monument and archaeology of Egypt.

For many years I was Director General of the Giza and Pyramid area of Egypt, then head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and later, once Egyptian antiquities were given their own separate ministerial portfolio, the first Minister of Antiquities of Egypt. As such, I am keenly aware of the problems and difficulties faced in the care and conservation of Egypt’s archaeological sites, including Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The problems we face in the Valley are serious, with the potential destruction of many of the spectacular tombs there. These problems, especially damage from periodic floods and debris carried by floodwaters are urgent and need to be addressed soon to avoid damage and loss of these monuments. There are tombs in urgent need of structural conservation and clearance, as well.

At the moment, the number of tourists visiting Egypt have significantly decreased and all of our conservation projects of monuments depend largely on revenues from tourism. So, I am sending a message to the entire world that Egypt is safe.

The Valley of Kings Archaeological and Conservation Consortium is comprised of professionals in Egyptology, archaeology, archaeological conservation and related fields, all of whom have worked in Egypt for many years, many of whom are well-known to me personally. They are well-qualified, serious professionals who have in common a love for Egypt and recognition that its monuments belong not only to Egypt but also to the entire world.

The goals and aims of its project in the Valley are worthy of your support if we are to save these treasures for future generations. I hope that you will find yourselves able to contribute to the support of the work of the Consortium in any amounts as you are able to afford. I am supporting this project because we need more conservation than excavation at this stage. Edward Johnson, the agent of the Consortium, has worked on conservation projects in Luxor for a long time and I am confident that he will be able to serve the monuments of Egypt with honesty and professionalism.

Sincerely,

Zahi Hawass

March 12, 2017

Click the image below to view Dr. Zahi Hawass’s endorsement letter.