“When will we stop messing around with the management of Egyptian heritage?” she said, arguing that international principles of archaeological restoration generally prohibit such large-scale interventions.
In response to the criticism, the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said it had formed a committee of experts to examine the project, throwing its future into uncertainty. A ruling on the plan is expected to be issued in the coming days.
Zahi Hawass, also an Egyptologist, said that approximately a third of Menkaure's pyramid was originally covered in layers of granite.
It was never completely covered due to the death of Menkaure, the 4th Dynasty pharaoh after whom the pyramid was named.
Menkaure's Pyramid was built around 2500 BC, and was originally about 65 meters high. Over time, it was gradually eroded by corrosion and vandalism.
Building the new museum
The granite cladding restoration plan forms part of the larger “Project of the Century” initiative to develop the Giza Pyramids area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s most famous archaeological destination.
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The broader plan includes building the Grand Egyptian Museum, modernizing local infrastructure, and creating new and improved facilities for visitors.
Cairo described the museum as the largest in the world dedicated to a single civilization. The massive structure near the Giza Pyramids has been under construction since 2005, and its opening has been repeatedly delayed.
Officials hope the $1.2 billion ($1.82 billion) attraction will provide a major boost to Egypt's tourism industry, an important source of foreign currency and jobs for the country's struggling economy, once it finally opens its doors.
The issue of heritage preservation in Egypt is often the subject of heated debate.
The recent destruction of entire areas in Cairo's historic district has led to strong movements by civil society groups, many of which are largely barred from political activity and now focus the bulk of their disputes with the government of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on issues of urban planning and heritage. .
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Recently, debate has focused on the 15th-century Abu Abbas al-Mursi Mosque in the coastal city of Alexandria, the second largest mosque in Egypt.
Local authorities announced an investigation after one of the contractors responsible for the renovation decided to redecorate the ornate, carved and colorful ceilings of the city's largest mosque using white paint.
The Telegraph, London
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