The
West Bank of the Nile at Luxor ranks among
the richest and most important archaeological
zones in the world. Within its nine square
kilometers are the Valley of the Kings
and Valley of the Queens, the burial places
of Egypt’s New Kingdom rulers (ca. 1540–1075
B.C.); the village of Dier al-Madinah,
home to the artisans who created so many
of the monuments; the palace-city of Malqata;
more than 5,000 nobles’ tombs; countless
shrines; Palaeolithic workstations; and
some 40 temples.
The monuments of the Theban Necropolis
are threatened by theft and vandalism,
uncontrolled tourism, neglect, and development
pressures. Yet the most urgent problem
is that of rising groundwater in the
wake of the construction of the Aswan
Dam four decades ago, which has invited
agricultural encroachment onto newly
fertile lands in and around the ancient
monuments. Increased soil salinity has
weakened the foundations of numerous
temples, many of which are not fully
excavated, while heat from brush fires
set to clear the land has caused even
the most massive stones to split. Hundreds
of nobles’ tombs are filling with water,
damaging their inscribed walls and grave
goods.
A management plan for the entire West
Bank is the objective of the current
Watch listing. The plan will provide
for conditions assessments of the archaeological
remains in area, address agricultural
reform, and formulate a conservation
strategy. Implementation of the plan,
however, will take time and money. Much
is at stake, and time is of the essence
to prevent the loss one of humankind’s
great monumental ensembles.
