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Ancient Memphis
Mit Rahina
Human-induced Impact Assessment
Heritage Impact Assessment
The Joint Master in Heritage Conservation and Site Management
Prepared by
MOHAMED BADRY KAMEL MOHAMED ABDALLA EL SAYED HASSAN
COTTBUS 2014
Mit Rahina
ii
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
4
Chapter One
Mit Rahina
5
1.1. The Location
5
1.2. Site History
5
1.3. The Archaeological Elements of the Site
7
1.4. Assessing Values of the Site
10
1.5. Description of Current or Proposed Change
11
Chapter Two
Identifying the Potential Impacts of the Threats on the Site
13
2.1. The Impact of Intensified Irrigation Water
13
2.2 The Impact of Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
14
2.3. The Impact of Illegal Urban Development
16
2.4. The Impact of the Lack of Maintenance and Conservation
17
Chapter Three
Analyizing and Evaluating the Impacts
18
3.1. The Impact of Intensified Irrigation Water
18
3.2. The Impact of Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
19
3.3. The Impact of Illegal Urban Development
20
3.4. The Impact of the Lack of Maintenance and Conservation
21
Chapter Four
Developing Mitigation Measures
23
4.1. Intensified Irrigation Water
23
4.2. Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
23
4.3. Illegal Urban Development
24
4.4. The Lack of Maintenance and Conservation
24
Conclusion
25
Bibliography
26
Mit Rahina
iii
List of Figures
Page
Fig. 1
Location of Mit Rahina
5
Fig. 2
Survey of the original location of Mit Rahina
5
Fig. 3
The Map of the Archaeological Site
7
Fig. 4
The Colossal Statue of King Ramses II
7
Fig. 5
Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenemhat II
8
Fig. 6
Garden of Open Air Museum
8
Fig. 7
Temple of God Ptah
8
Fig. 8
Temple of Goddess Hathor
9
Fig. 9
The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
9
Fig. 10
The Embalming House of Apis
10
Fig. 11
The Core Zone of WHS "Memphis and its Necropolis"
11
Fig. 12
Salinization Closing to the Archaeological Component
13
Fig. 13
Impact of the Intensified Irrigation Water in the Base-level Soil
13
Fig. 14
The Damped Soil of Open Air Museum
13
Fig. 15
The Growth of the Grasses on the Architectural Elements of the Ramses II’s
Palace
14
Fig. 16
The Wooden Bazaars in Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
15
Fig. 17
The High Carrying Capacity in the Ramses II Museum
15
Fig. 18
Tourists are taking photo behind the New Kingdom Sarcophagus
16
Fig. 19
The Visual Pollution
17
Fig. 20
An Encroachment on Kom el-Rabi’
17
Fig. 21
The Accumulated Solid Waste, the Embalming House
17
Fig. 22
An Inappropriate way of Conservation, the Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
17
Mit Rahina
Page 4
INTRODUCTION
Mit Rahina is considered an adequate archaeological site for implementing Heritage Impact
Assessment methodology providing example of Human-induced Impact on the archaeological
sites. Although the site is included in the list of World Heritage Sites “Memphis and its
Necropolis” but actually, UNESCO is so interested of the Giza plateau site only and neglected
other parts from Saqqara to Dahshur.
Our search used archaeological and Egyptological-related Libraries, internet sources and besides,
oral sources that are done within a field trip interviewing the site inspector Mr. Mohamed Fathy
Mansour, Mit Rahina Inspectorate register, on Thursday, 16th January 2014 that he informatively
supported. The visitation was evaluated the ground cover and potential for buried archaeological
materials as well as noticing any standing or obtrusive archaeological and historical features.
There are more archaeological, historical and Egyptology studies about the site conducted by the
British archaeologist W. M. Flinders Petrie, David G. Jeffrey, and Lisa Giddy…etc. This
research will assess the current situation of Mit Rahina, open air museum and its surrounding
survived archaeological components which have been affected by the human-induced impact
then it will provide Heritage Impact assessment procedures.
Initially, it will describe the current or proposed changes and then identify the threats on the site
in order to analyze its potential impacts. Consequently, it will suggest some mitigation
measures.
Mit Rahina
Page 5
Chapter One
Mit Rahina
1.1. The Location:
An ancient city Memphis has a distinguished location. It is considered the first political
capital. This historical city lies originally on the western bank of the Nile River that the
current site of Mit Rahina village where is about twenty three kilometers away south of
modern Cairo. While it should be noticed that the original location of an ancient town is
delivered on the modern villages to the eastern side of the Saqqara necropolis such as
Aziziya, Ezbet Gabri, Mit Rahina, Bedrashein, and Shinbab (David G. Jeffreys 2001:373; J.
Baines and J. Malek 2000:134).
1.2. Site History
After the fifth century B.C, the earliest capital Memphis was mentioned by the classical
writers and historians such as Herodotus, Strabo and Diodorus. Memphis was founded,
within the beginnings of the old kingdom, by King Hor-Aha (or probably King Menes
(Narmer) during the first dynasty (3000 – 2920 B.C).
The king Narmer had chosen this location as the capital of Egypt after the unification of
Upper and Lower Egypt. So, according to some scholars, Memphis was the center of an
ancient civilization, the centralized government, and also the trade spot. It locates near
Figure 1 Survey of the original location of Mit Rahina
Figure 2 Location of Mit Rahina
Source: (
B. PORTER and R. L. B. MOSS 1994)
Mit Rahina
Page 6
the apex of the Delta controlling all major routes for internal trade as well as foreign
commerce. And then, during the Middle kingdom especially during the reign of King
Amenhotep II that it remained as a religious and commercial center.
In the New kingdom, it was the principal seat of the government, as well as a training
camp of the Egyptian military forces and a cosmopolitan river port. So, the most of
monuments, which excavated in Mit Rahina, come back to the New Kingdom. For the
divine Ptah of Memphis, King Amenhotep IV (known as Akhenaten, the heretical king)
builds a temple at Memphis for the worship of the solar disk god Aten. Also, King
Ramses II has a lot of structures in the site (David G. Jeffreys 2001:373; J. Kamil 1985:
26, 27, 30).
During the Late period, it was also a trade center and a refuge. "It was as a place of
refuge. During the reign of King Apries, Jewish exiles from Jerusalem were received
there. Fifty years later, during the reign of King Amasis, Ionian and Carian mercenaries
and refugees from Babylon were settled in special quarters. Memphis had become
Egypt's most cosmopolitan city. It combined a strong local identity based on deep-rooted
traditions with a remarkable absorptive capacity to tolerate other people' diverse beliefs
and practices."
When the Ptolemies started to found their new capital Alexandria, they remained on an
earliest capital Memphis that stills as a religious capital. "According to Diodorus, the
coronation rituals were still erect at the temple of god Ptah till the reign of King Ptolemy
VIII, about 140 B.C."
The actual destruction of the original Memphis started with the latter period of the
Roman occupation of Egypt (30 B.C. - 640 A.D.). Romans used cement as a building
material while many of the monuments, built of limestone, were destroyed and burned for
lime content. Then, with the edict of Emperor Theodosius (395 A.D.), when Christianity
was declared to be the official religion, paganism was actively forbidden. So, Memphis
did not except from the wave of destruction that swept over the land that all of walls were
plastered over and monuments converted into Christian monasteries and churches.
This greatest city neglected so much after the Arab conquest of Egypt. Arabs also
complete the destruction activities, after the Roman period, especially with the founding
of the Fatimid capital Cairo in 969 A.D.; Memphis was used as a quarry. Blocks of
Mit Rahina
Page 7
granite, marble and Egyptian alabaster were s tripped from surviving monument (J. Kamil
1985:27; David G. Jeffreys 2001:373).
1.3. The Archaeological Elements of the Site:
1- The museum of the colossal Statue of King Ramses II
Figure 3 The Colossal Statue of King Ramses II
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 4 The Map of the Archaeological Site
(Source:
J. Baines and J. Malek 2000:136)
Mit Rahina
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2- In the garden of the museum compound, there are numerous masterpieces such as the
uninscribed alabaster sphinx, the inscribed pedestal, granite sarcophagus, besides other
vessels.
3- The Great Temple of God Ptah
Figure 7 Temple of God Ptah
Source: http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/77/Memphis200401.JPG
Figure 6 Garden of Open Air Museum
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 5 Alabaster Sphinx of King Amenemhat II
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina
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4- The Temple of Sycamore goddess Hathor
5- The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Figure 9 The Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Figure 8 Temple of Goddess Hathor
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina
Page 10
6- The Embalming House of Apis Bull lies to the southwestern corner of the enclosure
wall of the main temple of god Ptah.
1.4. Assessing Values of the Site
Mit Rahina is a part of the UNESCO world heritage site “Memphis and its Necropolis –
the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur” (UNESCO (a)). It has been inscribed in 1979
under the criteria (I), (III), and (VI) (UNESCO (b)).
1
An ancient town Memphis (Mit
Rahina) is considered an original unit with temples, palaces, houses and estates, industrial
areas, artisan communities, army training camp and riverine port. It had religious,
political and economic significances along the history.
1
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius; (iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a
cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared; (vi) to be directly or tangibly
associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding
universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with
other criteria)
Figure 10 The Embalming House of Apis
Source:
http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2009/10/27/animal_mummies_001_slide-
b8cf399d72b9a286719c91c6b5144d9abfc74b98-s6-c30.jpg
Mit Rahina
Page 11
Mit Rahina had a religious role which was related to worship of all the gods, Ptah, the
god of creative force, the goddess Hathor, the mother goddess as she skulled all the
kings, and Apis, the bull god.
This ancient town had a political entity that it was “the first sovereign of the unified
Egyptian kingdom, Menes or Narmer, ordered the construction of a new capital in the
area around the Nile Delta, the City of Menes, Mennufer” which to be considered the
mark of the boundary among Upper and Lower Egypt (UNESCO (a); Margaret R. Bunson
2002:236; AERAGRAM 2012:2). During the late period, “It was as a place of refuge.
Memphis had become Egypt's most cosmopolitan city. It combined a strong local identity
based on deep-rooted traditions with a remarkable absorptive capacity to tolerate other
people' diverse beliefs and practices."
Mit Rahina was the trades spot where locates near the apex of the Delta controlling all
major routes for internal trade as well as foreign commerce. “Memphis was visited by
merchants and traders”. (David G. Jeffreys 2001:373; J. Kamel 1985:26)
1.5. Description of Current or Proposed Change
The actual situation of the site can be defined through the identifying of the threats, the
deteriorations of its architectural elements and the developments surrounding an
Figure 11 The Core Zone of WHS "Memphis and its Necropolis"
Source:
http://whc.unesco.org/download.cfm?id_document=100840
Mit Rahina
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archaeological area. The site has been affected by many factors such as the intensified
irrigation water, the illegal urban development, tourism and its facilities pressure, finally
the lack of maintenance and conservation.
The current situation of the temples of god Ptah and goddess Hathor are in a worst
condition as a result of the intensified irrigation of the surrounding cultivated fields
(ECHO). The temple of god Ptah is partly covered by irrigation water and sewage water
which coming from the surrounding illegal settlements. The temple of Goddess Hathor
has been affected by rising of the irrigation water and the high percentage of salinity
which can be seen on the base-level soil and the stone of the pillars.
The current archaeological site hasn’t legal boundaries or limits, so Kom El-Fakhry and
Kom El-Rabi’ are considered situating close to the visual boundaries of the site. These
areas are estimated by the archaeological expeditions that may have archaeological
findings related to the temple of goddess Hathor but unfortunately, the site, in the last two
decades, has been affected by huge encroachment (the un-planning settlements
constructed upon the hill).
Badly, the embalming house of Apis bull is affected from the sewage water which
coming from the frontal houses and an inappropriate way of maintenance and
preservation while the open air museum is in a good statement of conservation; however,
there are slightly negative impacts from the tourism facilities. The tiny chapel of King
Seti I is in a well preserved condition.
Mit Rahina
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Chapter Two
Identifying the Potential Impacts of the Threats on the Site
2.1. The Impact of Intensified Irrigation Water:
Many of the Egyptian archaeological sites are harmed from the bad use of the irrigation
cycles because the Egyptian farmers prefer the flood irrigation system, the adverse impact
of the intensified irrigation water near the archaeological sites can be seen in the
deterioration in the base-level soil of the site. Moreover, it can increase the problem of
salinization and provide the humidity. All these factors can damage the monuments
within the site.
In particularly, Mit Rahina is suffered from the
flooding irrigation. The observation of that can be
clearly felt on the damped soil of open air
museum, the tiny chapel of King Seti I has been
harmfully affected by the water which is
obviously still remaining in the site.
Figure 13 Impact of the Intensified Irrigation Water in the Base-
level Soil
Source:
http://www.ikziezegliefen.nl/index.php?option=com_joomga
llery&view=image&format=raw&id=529&type=img
Figure 12 Salinization Closing to the Archaeological Component
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 14 The Damped Soil of Open Air Museum
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina
Page 14
The Ramses II’s palace is partly covered by water. The temple of god Ptah, where
considered the most important architectural component of the site, is unfortunately
strongly damaged by the irrigation water. The embalming house of Apis is also suffered.
All of these architectural elements of the site can be broken or damaged due to this
adverse impact and these valuable elements are irreversible.
As result of this threat, the growth of the grasses is highly seen in the site especially on the
architectural elements such as the embalming house, the Ramses II’s property, and also
the tiny chapel of King Seti I.
2.2. The Impact of Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
Although tourism is considered the high important sector for the Egyptian economic, it has
a high negative impact on the fragile monuments that has been noticed and was discussed
on a large scale by UNESCO, the European Union, and the World Tourism Organization
(Z. Hawas).
The impacts of tourism, on the site of Mit Rahina, are
1. The affection of the visual pollution resulted from the establishment of wooden
bazaars inside the site which can disturb the satisfaction of the visitors
Figure 15 The Growth of the Grasses on the Architectural Elements of the
Ramses II's Palace
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina
Page 15
2. The humidity resulted from a high carrying capacity
Figure 16 The Wooden Bazaars in Mit Rahina, Open Air Museum
Source:
https://weepingredorger.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc09659.jpg?w=58
4&h=328
Figure 17 The High Carrying Capacity in the Ramses II
Museum
Source:
http://previews.agefotostock.com/previewimage/baja
age/2462ebdd34208475e24e8104fb0c1aa1/dae-
11080951.jpg
Mit Rahina
Page 16
3. Stone deteriorations resulted from touching the archaeological masterpieces
This delicate archaeological site has been affected by the increasing of tourism in Egypt
and by providing tourism facilities and amenities.
2.3. The Impact of Illegal Urban Development
One of the features of the population growth in Egypt is the un-planning and illegal
settlements or inappropriate constructions inside or near the archaeological sites that
impairing the authenticity and culture significance. The site has been suffered by these
illegal buildings. During the 25th January Revolution, the increasing of illegal
constructions was highly occurred in the archeological sites in Egypt generally and in Mit
Rahina particularly due to the lack of security system and law implementation. From the
adverse impact of the revolution, the enclosure wall (Newly constructed fence) of Mit
Rahina (Open Air Museum) was partly broken and some people do huge encroachments
inside the main monumental site.
This location has been dramatically deteriorated from
1- The visual pollution due to the undecorated and unorganized buildings
2- The sewage water system, coming from the frontal settlements, can affect the soil
of the level base, and intensifying the growth of the grasses in the main
monuments.
Figure 18 Tourists are taking Photo behind the New Kingdom
Sarcophagus
Source:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
K5QcQTvO6u0/T5b0gbtCscI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/fiPU6
QB4amU/s320/174.JPG
Mit Rahina
Page 17
3- The accumulated solid wastes left in the site can be occurred a burn in the site.
2.4. The Impact of the Lack of Maintenance and
Conservation
The site has been badly damaged due to the lack of
maintenance and conservation which impacting
durability and heritage value of the archaeological
elements and also, can lead to more deterioration,
damages, disfigurement that the reliefs, inscriptions,
and scenes will be vanished day by day.
Figure 20 An Encroachment on Kom el-Rabi'
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 19 The Visual Pollution
Source
: https://scontent-b-
ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-
9/10369602_394398077367076_28820590
55044733404_n.jpg
Figure 21 The Accumulated Solid Waste, the Embalming House
Source:
© Mohamed Badry
Figure 22 An Inappropriate way of Conservation,
the Tiny Chapel of King Seti I
Source: © Mohamed Badry
Mit Rahina
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Chapter Three
Analyzing and Evaluating the Impacts
Mit Rahina is considered very high value site that was disaggregated as a part of the great World
Heritage Site (WHS) “Memphis and its Necropolis”. So, the impacts of the identified threats are
considered as adverse direct impacts on the site itself while others create an indirect
adverse impact.
3.1. The Impact of Intensified Irrigation Water
The irrigation system has a large impact on the site which is considered direct physical
adverse impact which should be completely avoided. This impact was a result of the
intensification of using the flood regime, which may consequently affect in the groundwater
pollution as result of high use of pesticides and fertilizers (T.C. Dougherty and A.W. Hall HR
Wallingford 1995:47).
The site could be harmfully damaged by the continuous uncontrolled irrigation system that
some monuments are covered by the soil like the temple of King Ramses II. The negative
impact can be resulted in deterioration of the stones because of the high percentage of the
humidity – like the embalming house of Apis bull and some affected masterpieces in open
Mit Rahina
Page 19
air museum - and salinity - such as the temple of Goddess Hathor - in the soil (T.C.
Dougherty and A.W. Hall HR Wallingford 1995:57).
The flooding irrigation has been caused of raising the grasses which probably cover some
archaeological remains – it can release some inscription, reliefs, and scenes - and effect on
the visual integrity that has a negative effect on the experience and satisfaction of the
visitors.
3.2. The Impact of Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
Actually, the world heritage sites are world widely considered the physical source of
tourism industry which, in the same time, represents high pressure on the sustainability of
these heritage sites. So, tourism has direct physical adverse impact on the site of Mit
Rahina but this could be controlled and avoid by implementing an adequate visitor
management plan.
Mit Rahina has slightly negative impact produced by establishing bazaars, inside the main
open air museum, which cause high capacity at the same place in the short time. So, these
positions represent a physical visual impact on the monuments and also affect visitor
satisfaction because it creates a visual pollution. Moreover, High carrying capacity creates
humidity and besides, the lack of tourist’s awareness of the site values is resulted in
touching and sitting on the monuments.
Mit Rahina
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3.3. The Impact of the Illegal Urban Development
The impact of illegal urban development is considered a direct adverse impact on the site.
So, it is absolutely high impact and unacceptable. This site was badly influenced by this
inducement which clearly produced negative physical and visual effects on it. Resulted in
increasing of the population surrounding and extremely near to the historical site, a huge
impact from the waste and the un-planning sewage system affected the monuments.
These illegal settlements were actually established on the extension of the archaeological
site which may have some unexcavated archaeological remains and this is considered
unacceptable in archaeological site as it threats the future of the excavations and the
scientific research of the archaeology science.
Because of the unorganized settlements, the government does not provide them with the
infrastructure services such as the waste transferring or the planning of a sewage system so
the local community in these settlements was obligated to leave their waste near the site and
sometime, throw it inside the site itself. The un-planning sewage system in Mit Rahina is
Mit Rahina
Page 21
represented as a severe impact that it is due to the intensified growth of the grasses which
partly cover the archaeological components.
This adverse effect has a high influence on the site’s visual impact because these buildings
were constructed without any consideration to the concept of preserving the site’s
authenticity view. These impacts have continually affected the main fabrics which could
create stone cracks, besides, the gradual vanishing of some inscriptions, scenes and reliefs
from the surface of the stone.
3.4. The Impact of the Lack of Maintenance and Conservation
An inappropriate way of conservation may cause the cracks in some parts of architectural
components. This impact is considered a negative direct physical effect on the monumental
elements while it is an acceptable with mitigation measures.
Due to the lack of the management system, there is not supervision and monitoring
indicators on the site’s labors who are originally peasants, so they cuts the grasses without
giving high attention to the values of the monuments and can easily break the unpredicted
antiquities.
Mit Rahina
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This location has been gradually affected from
1- Using of early traditional ways of lessening the growth of the grasses on the
archaeological elements,
2- Not repairing the broken glass which protect the Stela,
3- Using cement instead of traditional plaster in the conservation of the archaeological
elements.
Mit Rahina
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Chapter Four
Developing Mitigation Measures
The adverse pressures, on this very high value site, need more mitigation measures among
avoidance measures – which will concern on preventive measures to avoid impact totally by
removing the source of threat - and reduction measures.
4.1. The Intensified Irrigation Water
Flood regime can be change into a low-flow irrigation system such as drip, Spray, and better
spray irrigation which will offer the best opportunities to lessen the effect. So, the high
amount of drainage water can be reduced and consequently, the percentage of salinity and
humidity will be decreased, besides that; the erosion may be stopped (H. Perlman 2014;T.C.
Dougherty and A.W. Hall HR Wallingford 1995:47,59).
The administrative committee tries to identify the legal site boundaries and also the distance
between these and the cultivated lands, which are considered the source of threat. So, this
committee will establish the mobile elements to prevent totally the effect of irrigation water,
besides that; it will do previously the suction process for the saved irrigation water beneath
the archaeological elements.
The Mit Rahina municipality recommends the resident peasants or farmers to cultivate the
agriculture productions which are needed to a low-flow irrigation system such as fruits
and vegetables.
4.2. Tourism and its Facilities Pressure
Tourism has more pressures on the site through its facilities such as the carrying capacity of
the visitors and the inappropriate wooden bazaars. So, the threat may be decrease through
the reduction measures by these following ways:
1- Controlling the number and timing of the visitors inside the site.
2- Transferring the wooden bazaars to other appropriate locations where are near to the site.
3- Developing the variety of the site attractions to encourage tourists - who are looking for
new experience - to extend their stays.
Mit Rahina
Page 24
4- Raising the magnitude of the effective visitor education, or interpretation, strategy in
order to minimize the impacts of tourism through guiding the visitor behavior.
4.3. The Illegal Urban Development
The majority of the archaeological elements suffered from the threat’s impacts which
lead to suggest some mitigation measures that there are two options
Option (A):
Preventing inappropriate or illegal developments through the enforcement of zoning
regulations in the village of Mit Rahina; establishing suitable infrastructure for the
current buildings to prevent the impact of sewage and waste, and then, decorate the
façade of these buildings in order to match with the site harmony.
Option (B):
Using an avoidance measures within transferring these illegal settlements to other
new cities.
4.4. The Lack of Maintenance and Conservation
This threat has high pressure on the sustainability situation of the archaeological components,
so this lead to suggest using the reduction measures such as conserving the current damaged
areas or the bad conserved architectural elements. Moreover, the site should request the
assistance of the advisor bodies - the conservation institutions and organizations – such as
ICCROM, ICOMOS …etc. which will assist the site from two sides the conservation
methodology and the scientific side through organizing workshops or training courses for the
site crew.
Mit Rahina
Page 25
Conclusion
In conclusion, after providing HIA for Mit- Rahina, the site is considered of a high value while,
unfortunately, it is subjected under pressures and threats which have potential adverse impact on
the sustainability of the site. It is important to prioritize the threats and their impact on the site in
order to identify the areas of potential needs of intervention and assistance.
According to the previous analysis and evaluation of impacts, the threat of intensified irrigation
water and its impacts are highly considered as the first priority to deal with it. The illegal
development could be the second potential impact to be taken in consideration. The lack of
maintenance and conservation is of high consideration and it could be placed after the previous
impact. Last but not least, the impact of tourism and its facilities pressure can be considered the
least potential impact on the site.
The site is originally suffered from the non-formal boundaries which, no doubt, could raise the
magnitude of encroachments between the illegal development and the vandalism. There no doubt
that the current site faces the resident encroachments which are represented in the settlement.
There are high numbers of people who lives in these houses and it is hard for the government to
transfer that community or set more pressure upon their socio- economic life by removing them
into rural area far from their businesses. By the way, a clear boundaries and buffer zone with
fences, it will prevent any more engrossment
Finally, the search recommends to form an Executive Committee for the site, its main
responsibility is to take into account Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) provided in this
document. Moreover, they will be responsible for providing the management plan for
sustainability of this great archaeological site within identifying the core zones and the buffer
zone that setting the legal frame of the site. It is highly suggested that the management plan
focuses on applying the mitigation measures by creating objectives related to the safeguarding of
the site. It is also essential to establish monitoring and framework indicators for securing the
implementation of the management plan.
Mit Rahina
Page 26
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