Zahi Hawass, Egypt's archaeology supremo, yesterday announced the discovery of the remains of a 4,000-year-old dam near the Karnak Temple in Luxor. Located a few metres from the ancient temple, the dam was discovered by an Egyptian-French team, which has been working in Luxor since March this year.
“The 230-metre long dam was built during the age of the Middle Kingdom to protect the temple from the Nile flood,” Hawass told a news conference. Hawass, who is Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), went on to say that the discovery was important because it proved that the Ancient Egyptians were good at building dams. Many archaeologists were beginning to believe that Luxor had 'dried up', since nothing of great importance would be found again, but yesterday's find will revive interest in this ancient town.
Hawass said the Egyptian-French team had also unearthed the relics of a Roman bath dating back to the 1st century AD.The 2,000 year-old bath, also a few metres from the Karnak Temple, includes remains of rooms supplied with hot and cold water. He said that the team had also discovered a clay jar containing 316 coins from various historical periods.
This is the complete item on the Egyptian Gazette website.
Also reported on xinhuanet.
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