The Valley of the Kings: A Site Management Handbook

by Kent R. Weeks

Overview

During the New Kingdom (c. 1570–1070 BCE), the Valley of the Kings was the burial place of Egypt’s pharaohs, including such powerful and famous rulers as Amenhotep III, Rameses II, and Tutankhamen. They were buried here in large and beautifully decorated tombs that have become among the country’s most visited archaeological sites. The tourists contribute millions of badly needed dollars to Egypt’s economy. But because of inadequate planning, these same visitors are destroying the very tombs they come to see. Crowding, pollution, changes in the tombs’ air quality, ever-growing tourist infrastructure—all pose serious threats to the Valley’s survival.
This volume, the result of twenty-five years of work by the Theban Mapping Project at the American Universityin Cairo, traces the history of the Valley of the Kings and offers specific proposals to manage the site and protect its fragile contents. At the same time, it recognizes the need to provide a positive experience for the thousands of visitors who flock here daily. This is the first major management plan developed for any Egyptian archaeological site, and as its proposals are implemented, they offer a replicable model for archaeologists, conservators, and site managers throughout Egypt and the region.
Published in both English and Arabic editions and supported by the World Monuments Fund, this critical study will help to ensure the survival of Egypt’s patrimony in a manner compatible with the country’s heavy reliance on tourism income.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789774166082
Publisher:	American University in Cairo Press, The
Publication date:	06/01/2014
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kent R. Weeks is professor emeritus of Egyptology at the American Universityin Cairo and director of the Theban Mapping Project.



Nigel J. Hetherington is an archaeologist and television producer and the owner and founder of Past Preservers. He is a graduate of the Institute of Archaeology, UniversityCollege London and a specialist in tourism and heritage management.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Site
Site Definition: Thebes and Modern Luxor
Site Definition: The West Bank
Site Definition: The Valley of the Kings
Historical Development of KV
Current Risk Factors
The Natural Environment
Human Activity
Summary of KV Risk Factors
Tourism and KV
Tourism in Egypt
Tourism in Luxor
Tourism in KV
Stakeholder Surveys
Stakeholder Survey Stage One—KV Site Survey
Stakeholder Survey Phase Two—Online Survey
Other Stakeholders
KV Condition Surveys
Current and recent archaeological intervention in KV
Previous Work by the TMP
Current Tomb Condition Reports
Tomb Environmental Monitoring
KV Infrastructure
Roads and Pathways to KV
Types of Transport
Vehicle Parking
Vendors’ Area
Visitors Center
Tramline and Road from Visitors Center to KV
Security Entrance and Camera Rules
Toilets
Shelters and Rest Stops
Tomb Interiors
Site Utilities
Site Fabric
Summary of Proposals and Status as of 2012
Visitor Management in KV
Carrying Capacity
Carrying Capacity of KV Tombs
Ticketing Procedures
Visitor Experience in KV
Summary of Proposals
KV Site Management
The Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA)
Site Management and CRM Training
Emergency and Disaster Planning
Site Maintenance
Site Management Information Systems
Summary of Proposals