Djoser Pyramid restoration to be completed after 3 months - Egypt Today

http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/6339/Djoser-Pyramid-restoration-to-be-completed-after-3-months
Saqqara - Pyramid of Djoser - Creative Commons Via Wikimedia

Djoser Pyramid restoration to be completed after 3 months

By: Egypt Today staff

Fri, Jun. 2, 2017

CAIRO –2 June 2017: The reconstruction work in the pyramid of Djoser is continuing in a regular manner whereby, in the next 3 months, the external body will be completed, stated Alaa Al-Shahat, Director of Saqqara Antiquities area on Thursday.

The pyramid of Djoser restoration will be completed at the delivery of the pyramid deadline, which is due after one year from now, Shahat declared.

The southern cemetery in Saqqara is being supported now by the full completion of the fifth and sixth mastabas, and the eastern and southern façades, Shahat pointed out.

Cabinet has decided to allocate LE 15.3 million ($845,309) to support the restoration and maintenance of the Pyramid of Djoser. The restoration and maintenance of the pyramid has stopped since 2011, after the UNESCO report issued in September of the same year, stating that the exterior facades of the pyramid has suffered from lack of maintenance over the centuries.

In addition to the damage caused by the removal of the dirt blocks, which led to the creation of many large cavities in several areas, and the appearance of many blocks seriously hanging without the existence of any pillars to protect them.

The report also confirmed the existence of some problems in the restoration work. Later rumors spread that the pyramid was removed from the World Heritage List. The restoration work of the pyramid began in 2006, and was planned to end in 2009.But fears for the safety of the pyramid, increased after UNESCO's report, which acknowledged that many irregularities occurred from the company responsible about its maintenance.

These irregularities were technical, particularly in the use of limestone to plug the openings which emerged from the pyramid body, the matter that led to the distortion of the pyramid external shape. In addition to the excessive load on the pyramid, which became a real danger to the pyramid.

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