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The Faculty of Archaeology Strengthens International Collaboration in Tombstone Documentation Project in Partnership with the French Institute and the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Conducts On-Site Follow-Up

Under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Prof. Amany Osama Kamel, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; and Prof. Hossam Tantawy, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, conducted an inspection visit to the Amir Qurqumas Complex in Eastern Cairo, the current headquarters of the Tombstone Documentation Project for the Museum of Islamic Art and the Islamic Necropolis of Cairo.

The project represents one of the most prominent outcomes of the collaborative partnership launched in 2023 between the Faculty of Archaeology at Ain Shams University, the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology (IFAO) in Cairo, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. It is jointly directed by Prof. Ahmed El-Shoky, Professor of Islamic Archaeology and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology for Graduate Studies and Research, and Prof. Abbas Zouache, Professor of Islamic Civilization and Director of Studies at the IFAO. The project also brings together a distinguished team of French specialists from the Institute and French universities, alongside faculty members from the Department of Islamic Archaeology at Ain Shams University, including Prof. Nader Abdel Dayem, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel Aal, Dr. Shaimaa Abdullah, and Dr. Noura Abdel Kader.

The visit aimed to review the progress of the project, which focuses on the conservation and documentation of tombstones preserved at the Museum of Islamic Art, as well as documenting tombstones throughout the Islamic Necropolis of Cairo, ensuring the preservation of this unique archaeological heritage through the application of the latest scientific documentation and conservation methodologies. The inspection tour included the conservation laboratory, the documentation unit, and the storage facilities.

During the visit, the project co-directors delivered a brief presentation outlining the project's strategic objectives, implementation phases, and the key achievements accomplished since its launch. The visit concluded with the Secretary-General presenting certificates to trainees from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, including inspectors, curators, and conservators participating in the project.

The event was attended by a number of senior officials, including Dr. Pierre Tallet, Director of the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo; Dr. Ahmed Rahima, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Human Resources Development and Supervisor of the Ministry's Training Unit; as well as heads of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities, Projects, Museums, and Antiquities Conservation and Registration sectors, in addition to the directors of the Museum of Islamic Art, the East Cairo Antiquities Areas, and the Ministry's Training Unit.



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