CONCLUSION
[hline]

There is a degree of urgency with this project. The Berkeley Project of Mapping the Kings' Valley shows clearly the geological changes the location is undergoing. Nearly a century has passed without a deluge filling further the floor of the Valley and flooding once again the open tombs. Yet the pre- cautions Howard Carter took seventy years ago are no longer taken. This is the advantage of immediate television access. The public can see these problems straight on.

Some have estimated that present traffic visiting the present site will destroy it in two centuries.

The pressure argues for different and innovative means of presenting the artifacts of the Valley, thereby reducing the wear. It also argues for making enhanced and systematic subsurface inventories and rapid exploration of those anomalies. By doing so, some important historical questions can find solutions, freeing trained personnel to pursue a more vigorous examination of everyday life in Ancient Egypt. The people still live on their past, thousands of years under every village. This reality constantly thwarts efforts to examine the past. Enthusiastic interest and suitable funding could end that problem.

Once more, our project can show the need for that work to the public. Again, the electronic edge can help.

With a better understanding of their past, the population could rapidly begin what is common in many other places in the world, namely active, public pursuit of their heritage.

Figure 9.

If this project accomplishes its primary aim, discovering the tomb of Akhu En Aten, the effect will be electric. If the site appears as untouched as the Tut Ankh Amen tomb, the interest will likely destroy any chance for leisurely clearance and conservation. This is why we have planned to have in place an ability to control the images and information as clearance proceeds.

The global village will react to the news in many ways. But because the event takes place in one small place, the chances of mishap are great. These remains are the property of the world. The world will not take lightly trying to tribalize the discovery. Having such a wide range of participants can prevent this likelihood. Participants from the United States to Canada to Paris to Kuwait to Egypt makes the venture suitably international. Each country can bask in the glow of interest from other lands and none can claim sole respon- sibility.

Imagination cannot imagine the worse consequences.

The likelihood of a high level of success is not at all certain. For the sake of historical study, a dry well might be preferable. The technique will generate lesser finds with more historical content taken together. One massive find can overload the system. A series of lesser finds may add up to more than one stunning find.

Lastly, Kuwait will have supported a newsworthy venture, France will have started it, Canada will have supplied some distant analysis, the United States will have brought some technical surprises and Egypt shall have provided a magic venue.

To predict more would be folly.

Only the following merits attention: If every mention of this project started and ended with The Kuwaiti Fund Project, in short order the world's attitude towards Kuwait would change.

[hline]

Previous. - Next. - Home page.