Anthropology

Judi Lynn

(160,682 posts) Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:10 PM Feb 2012

Egypt begins the restoration of a 4,500-year old boat found near pyramids

Egypt begins the restoration of a 4,500-year old boat found near pyramids
By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, February 20, 11:20 AM

CAIRO — Archaeologists are beginning restoration on a 4,500-year-old wooden boat found next to the pyramids, one of Egypt’s main tourist attractions.

The boat is one of two buried next to the Pharaoh Khufu. Archaeologists believe the boats were buried with the pharaohs to carry them into the afterlife. Khufu, also known as Cheops, is credited with building the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the pyramids.

The boat was originally found in 1954 along with another ship, which was restored and is on display at a museum near the pyramids. Experts say the ships are the oldest surviving vessels from antiquity.

The head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Amin, said Egyptologists Monday began taking samples of the wood for restoration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/egypt-begins-the-restoration-of-a-4500-year-old-boat-found-near-pyramids/2012/02/20/gIQADhmUPR_story.html

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Egypt begins the restoration of a 4,500-year old boat found near pyramids (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2012 OP

Found a longer version of this story: Egypt begins restoring ancient boat near pyramids Judi Lynn Feb 2012 #1

Crewman John McCain said he's glad his old ship is being restored. Scuba Feb 2012 #2

LOL.. n/t Ichingcarpenter Feb 2012 #3

Both of the above links have strangely disappeared!!!! so... SamG Apr 2012 #4

Had no idea an article could slip around that quickly! Thank you for running down a working link. Judi Lynn Apr 2012 #5

Judi Lynn

(160,682 posts)

1. Found a longer version of this story: Egypt begins restoring ancient boat near pyramids

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Mon Feb 20, 2012, 03:30 PM

Feb 2012

Associated Press
Feb 20, 2:01 PM EST
Egypt begins restoring ancient boat near pyramids

~snip~
Both boats, made from Lebanese cedar and Egyptian acacia trees, were originally discovered in 1954. One of the boats is on display at a museum near the pyramids.

The second boat, which is now undergoing the restoration, remained buried. It is thought to be smaller than its sister ship, which is about 140 feet (43 meters) long.

~snip~
"The boat was found in a complete shape, intact and in place," he said, adding that the focus now is on taking samples of the wood.

~snip~
Last year in June, a team of scientists lifted the first of 41 limestone slabs each weighing about 16 tons to uncover the pit in which the ancient ship was buried, said Sakuji Yoshimura, professor from Japan's Waseda University.

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT_ANCIENT_BOAT?SITE=NCAGW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT