Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass has extended the idea of uncovering secrets of mummies from being just a scholarly pursuit to something more glamorous, says Saimi Sattar

Whenever one talks about the quest of the secrets of Pharaohs, Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass’ name is sure to come to mind. The Egyptologist and former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs, who served as a director of excavations at Giza, Saqqara and the Bahariya Oasis, has taken the the pyramids into the houses of common men and made archaeology accessible and hip. He has also worked at archaeological sites in the Nile Delta, the Western Desert and the Upper Nile Valley and has made many recent discoveries, including the tombs of the pyramid builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies at Bahariya. At Giza, he also uncovered the satellite pyramid of Khufu. In 2005, he led a team that carried out a CT scan of the mummy of King Tutankhamun to learn more about patterns of disease, health and mortality in ancient Egypt. This project continues and now includes mummies which are both royal and private in the hope of solving some of the mysteries surrounding the lives and deaths figures like Hatshepsut and Nefertiti.

Hawass has written and co-written many books relating to Egyptology, including The Curse of the Pharaohs: My Adventures with Mummies and King Tutankhamun: The Treasures from the Tomb. He is a columnist in Egypt Today magazine, and the online historical community, Heritage Key.

He has collaborated with Discovery for Expedition Unknown: Egypt Live, which aired yesterday. As part of this project, he went in search of ancient artifacts and opened an Egyptian sarcophagus for the very first time on air. The live two-hour multi-platform event was hosted by adventurer and avid explorer Josh Gates.

Opening the sarcophagus and doing it live. Why did you decide that?

I believe that it’s time to educate people about the thrill of archaeology. Also, we need to give a message to the world that Egypt is safe. The country needs tourists to come back because the arrival of tourists in the country is important for the conservation and restoration of its monuments, economically speaking and also in terms of the living interest in our culture. As Egyptians, we believe this wonderful civilisation belongs to every single person of the world. Also, as archaeologists we have the right to excavate and write about the discoveries, we believe that since everyone in the world is impressed by the pharaohs, they also have the right to be shown important discoveries like the opening of the sarcophagi live.

What is the kind of preparation that goes before opening one and what happens after?

We already did the research of the tombs and the sarcophagus, but to open it, we will do so carefully at the hands of expert workmen. These workmen have been trained extremely well and have a lot of experience. Afterwards, the artifacts will be collected, photographed, published and put in the magazine storage. As for the mummy, we can have it go under the CT scan machine to discover its sex, age and other basic information.

How would this opening advance the study of ancient Egypt?

First of all, I am confident that this event will capture hearts of people all over the world since it hasn’t been opened in 2,500 years. Opening it live will increase people’s love and fascination for ancient Egypt which is always a good thing. Scientifically speaking, the cemetery is new and was uncovered by accident in the desert, near the city that the famous queen Nefertiti left; there is also the temple of Thoth, god of wisdom, in the vicinity. So, you must understand that this area is of extreme scientific interest. Besides, these are the burial places of the priests of the god Thoth, so this work will complement the archaeological work, namely in acquiring knowledge about the 26th dynasty priesthood.

Whose sarcophagus is this?

We don’t know — we are opening three new ones. One has no name but we have of the second one that has no inscription but his name is known through a canopic jar — he was a singer of the god, Thoth.

Would it be of interest to people who are not perhaps as scholarly inclined?

Yes, of course. Not many people get the chance to witness the opening of a sarcophagus in front of their very eyes. I believe this is a monumental occasion for scholars and mass audiences alike.

There have been tales that it often brings death and destruction, what do you have to say to that?

No, this idea of the curse is an ancient one. People think that  if you are opening a tomb for the first time, there is a mummy that has bacteria and toxic chemicals that comes out of it but we bear this into mind by providing the right work conditions: there will be fresh air inside so the area can be quickly ventilated. This idea of death and destruction is mythical, it first arose after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen as Lord Carnvaron died five months later.

Are there differences between Nile Delta, the Western Desert, and the Upper Nile Valley or does it have to do more with the chronological order that these were made?

Different periods had different political developments across time, so the capitals of ancient Egypt changed. Also, each nome or “governorate” in ancient Egypt was focused on particular deities. Excavating in these areas is also a completely different experience as the environmental conditions vary.

You’ve worked at excavation sites across Egypt, what have been some of your more memorable experiences?

For me, I think the most important was finding the tombs of the pyramid builders. This was because the discovery was made at a very crucial time when people believed that the pyramids were built by lost civilisations or aliens. I was pleased as this discovery proved that the pyramids were built by Egyptian workers and not slaves. Another important moment for me was when I sent the robot in the great pyramid and saw mysterious doors with copper handles. I also loved the moments when I discovered the mummy of Hatshepsut and when I met the mummy of Tutankhamun face to face.

What is the satellite pyramid of Khufu? What makes it special?

It was found after many years that too by accident. When we were removing the paved road on which tourists buses used to move on. This road was above funerary temple of the great pyramid and also, underneath it, was the satellite pyramid. It’s basically an L-shaped structure composed of a burial chamber with an entrance; it has the oldest complete capstone (pyramidion) ever found in Egypt. I think, that was important in terms of the function of the pyramid’s cult. Most likely, when the king finished building the pyramid, he went into the burial chamber, left his robes and crowns; he adorned himself in a kilt and held the flail to perform a celebratory dance going out of the pyramid. This celebration indicated that the ruler had met and finished all the requirements that the gods of Egypt asked of him and now he was ready to join the rank of the gods.

What have the CT scans of many mummies, including that of Tutankhamen, revealed?

It revealed that Tutankhamun was not murdered, as some conspiracy theories indicate. He had malaria. We found a fracture in his left leg so most likely two hours before he died, he had an accident while riding a chariot and fell; this caused his death at the age of 19. We also know that he had a flatfoot, so the blood did not reach his toes; this would explain the amount of canes or walking sticks in his tomb.

On one hand, the discoveries are important but on the other hand they also boost tourism. But with the increase in footfalls inside the pyramids, it alters the climatic conditions which can lead to degradation. How do you balance conservation and tourism?

It is very important to find a balance between the need for tourism and the need to conserve antiquities. Every year, we alternate between the opened tombs to the public as others are closed. We also make sure to establish site management programmes for every site to give access to tourists so that we have an idea on how to protect them from damage. There are strict rules to adhere to, like not allowing tourists to enter tombs with bags and use of flash photography. There are many important actions and preventative steps that should happen because we need tourism for the preservation of his history and we need to preserve antiquities really well. Last, the Ministry of Antiquities always works to conserve and restore these historical antiquities sites, like the Nefetari and Tutankhamun tombs, sometimes with the help of international experts, such as Getty Institute for Conservation.

Beyond the glamour, what does it take to be an archaeologist and a celeb Egyptologist?

It takes passion, hard work, focus, continuous studies and working with scientific teams.

You are a celebrity of sorts and are associated with the cause of cancer. How did you get interested in it?

Due to popular demand for my famous hat, a company started selling copies of it; the profits currently go to support the children cancer hospital in Cairo. Prior to that, the sales of the hats went to the construction of the children museum also in Cairo; that museum is now open to the public.

How did you get interested in archaeology?

I did not expect to have a career in archaeology or Egyptology but I studied it when I was at the university of Alexandria. I was working at an excavation when the workers called me to let me know they had found a beautiful female statue — as soon as I saw it, I felt that I had found my love: archaeology. It is important to have passion in this field of work, this is the main key for success as passion gives one the patience and the endurance to not only persevere but to give all the efforts in the projects we are involved in.