Minister announces new antiquities guidelines

Al Masry Al Youm (Fathya el-Dakhakhni)

Culture Minister Farouk Hosni on Sunday issued a list of new regulations to be adopted by his ministry in line with guidelines laid out in the recently approved Egyptian Antiquity Protection Law.

The 199-article antiquities law was ratified by the People's Assembly on 15 February.

Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA) Secretary-General Zahi Hawass stated that some of the new regulations specifically pertained to the SCA. New directives, according to Hawass, include guidelines for defining what constitutes an "antiquity" per se; determining ownership of antiquities; regulating archeological excavations; and specifying how antiquities should be inventoried, preserved and restored.

Other regulations touch on tourism management at sites featuring antiquities and at Egyptian museums. The regulations also specify the fees to be charged for visiting these sites and photographing antiquities.