An exact replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb is being installed near the 3,000-year-old original version, in the West Bank of Luxor beside the home of Howard Carter, the legendary British archaeologist who discovered the original tomb in 1922. The facsimilie tomb will then be open to the public on May 1, 2014.
With the intention of preserving Egypt’s heritage, the Egyptian Government has signed a protocol with the “Society of Friends of the Royal Tombs of Egypt”, a Swiss-based heritage preservation group, to replicate Pharaonic sites of significance. The Tutankhamun facsimilie tomb, which has costed in excess of £410,000 will be the most accurate large-scale facsimilie to be made to date, has been created and funded by Spanish-Based firm ‘Factum Arte’ under the supervision of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquates.
Omayma El Husseini, UK and Ireland director, Egyptian Tourist Authority said, “Our heritage is something that gives Egypt its unique identity, preserving it through such projects is vitally important. They also ensure visitors have the opportunity to experience Pharaonic sites of significance, allowing them to stay for longer periods to fully appreciate the importance and relevance such projects as King Tutankhamun’s tomb has in ancient history.”
The need for the facsimilie tomb has arisen due to the significant number of visitors Tutankhamun’s tomb has. Having not been built to accommodate such numbers, it has begun to deteriorate. The facsimile tomb will ensure visitors the opportunity to understand the history of the tomb, while at the same time allowing for conservation of the original site as part of an initiative to safeguard tombs of the Theban Necropolis.
