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In recent decades, Egypt's impressive cultural heritage has , including looting, smuggling, vandalism, encroachment, and other illegal activities, all of which have put its heritage at risk of disappearing or being destroyed.
One recent example that highlights these ongoing threats occurred on 17 November, when a began circulating on social media showing workers atop the chipping away at its 4,000-year-old stones.
Zooming in on the footage, it appeared that the ancient monument was being damaged, stone by stone, as a construction worker used a chisel and hammer to break apart a block.
As expected, the video has — and continues to spark — outrage among Egyptian historians, translators, and archaeologists, who fear the damage could cause irreparable harm to one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites.
Mahmoud Ibrahim, a 58-year-old translator, described the incident as a “crime against our civilisation and an act of systematic negligence.”
For Egyptologist Monica Hanna, the hammering of the pyramid is merely a symptom of the real damage behind the scenes.
“What scares me the most is that more items could have been broken due to the lack of protocol, and no one knows about it,” Monica told , emphasising that there is no proper code for handling archaeological or cultural materials, objects, or buildings.
Social media users also condemned the “destruction” of the pyramid, with many the construction work as a “disaster.”
“I was in disbelief when I saw the video,” said Eman Mostafa, speaking to .
Eman added that while she had seen the Tahrir Complex being turned into a hotel, she never imagined seeing a single stone of the Pyramid being altered.
In response to these concerns, Egyptian authorities quickly that the hammering was part of a careful process to remove construction materials, specifically mortar used to secure electrical cables for the pyramid's lighting system.
In their statement, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reassured the public that no harm had been done to the pyramid’s structure or original stones, , “The construction materials were placed decades ago to cover the lighting network, without harming the pyramid’s structure or original stones.”
Accountability and criticism
Currently, blame is being directed at various parties responsible for the incident, with some pointing to private restoration companies.
Associate Professor of Restoration and Conservation, Ibrahim Mohamed Badrtold that in some projects, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) may work with private restoration companies.
to Ayman Ashmawy, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, the private restoration company involved in the work on the Great Pyramids of Giza has previously been criticised for its unprofessionalism. He added that strict action had been taken against the company as a result.
Others, including Member of Parliament Amira Abou Shoukka, are blaming Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy, holding him accountable for allowing construction work to take place while tourists were present.
From Amira's , conducting construction work in the presence of tourists is "primitive," damages Egypt's image, and reflects poor management.
Historian and Egyptologist Bassam El-Shammaa shared similar views, stating, “Conducting such work during peak hours in the busiest tourist season of winter was a management error by the company overseeing the project and all responsible officials.”
As a suggestion and best practice, Bassam recommended using a small tent to cover the site or carrying out the work outside visiting hours to avoid public confusion.
Questioning preservation standards
Beyond pointing fingers, Egyptians are increasingly questioning why recent restoration and construction work on historical sites, including the Great Pyramids of Giza, is not following international preservation standards.
According to Ibrahim, the aforementioned SCA is responsible for overseeing Egypt's cultural heritage.
He noted that the SCA manages archaeological and historical sites and enforces antiquities laws, including Law No. 117 of 1983, which all antiquities, and , which safeguards buildings of architectural or historical significance.
Although these laws aim to preserve Egypt’s cultural heritage, Monica raised concerns about their effectiveness, particularly Law No. 117 of 1983, which was amended in 2010, 2018, and 2020.
She argued that, while the laws were well-intentioned, they were not designed to address the current challenges Egypt faces in heritage preservation, especially in the context of restoration.
“The law still lacks detailed guidelines on how to repair buildings, determine restoration percentages, or identify who is qualified to carry out these tasks,”Monica said.
In addition to national laws, Egypt is also bound by international conventions on heritage preservation.
Ibrahim pointed out that Egypt has signed multiple agreements with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), including the 1972 World Heritage Convention, which protects sites of outstanding universal value, such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the last remaining wonder of the ancient world.
to Article 4 of the UNESCO Convention, nations are responsible for protecting their cultural and natural heritage, while Article 5 emphasises the need for policies and services to conserve and present these assets.
The Convention also that any reconstruction of archaeological sites or historical buildings must rely on precise documentation, leaving no room for speculation.
However, as Bassam puts it, while UNESCO regulations are important, they are often misunderstood.
“UNESCO regulations are not laws, but agreements,” he explained, adding that while they guide preservation efforts, they are not legally enforceable.
That said,Monica noted that the Venice Charter of 1964 sets global standards for restorations.
ѴDzԾٱ 9 of the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, which states: “The process of restoration is a highly specialised operation. Its aim is to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historical value of the monument and is based on respect for original material and authentic documents... The restoration must be preceded and followed by an archaeological and historical study of the monument.”
“However, what is happening in Egypt does not adhere to UNESCO rules, Venice Charter’s, or anything,”Monica said.
'Cultural vandalism'
For the general public, this lack of adherence has been described as “cultural vandalism.”
Physician Mohamed Sief, for example, warned that without proper government intervention, Egypt’s ancient heritage could be lost forever.
Bassam echoed this concern, arguing that strict oversight is necessary, especially after the recent damage caused by bulldozers to Mohammad Ali’s consort's mausoleum, which also outraged the public.
In light of the Great Pyramids of Giza incident, Bassam stated that to prevent public scepticism and damage, five to seven antiquities experts should have supervised the construction work to ensure that every action taken was precise and posed no risk to the monuments.
'Poor preservation damages our credibility'
Looking ahead, Ibrahim says that without proper organisation in restorations, deterioration and poor repairs by inexperienced contractors are likely to happen.
He stated, “Such was the case recently at the Great Pyramids of Giza, where key regulations were disregarded, raising concerns about its preservation.”
Monicaexpressed the same concern, saying it is sad to see monuments being carelessly damaged while being transported or loaded onto small trucks.
“Without experts and proper training, disasters could happen,” she said.
She also pointed out that the Venice Charter gives clear guidelines for handling objects, followed worldwide, and that Egypt needs its own preservation code.
Ibrahim added that improper restoration could harm Egypt's reputation in heritage preservation, stating, “It affects tourism, international relations, and perceptions of its commitment to cultural conservation.”
ѴDzԾٱ that such incidents harm Egypt's global reputation and its efforts to bring back stolen artefacts.
“We’re working to retrieve stolen artefacts, but poor preservation damages our credibility,” she said.
Bassamshared a similar opinion, saying, “Treating our monuments with carelessness harms our repatriation efforts, as it shows we cannot properly care for the monuments and artefacts we possess. So we must handle them carefully, professionally, and expertly to preserve our heritage.”
This author from Egypt is writing under a pseudonym to protect their identity
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