Tourism and Antiquities: Completion of Restoration and Installation of 16 Wooden Pieces from the Floor of Khufu's Second Ship at the Grand Egyptian Museum

Cairo – Hanaa El-Sayed: As part of efforts to make the archaeological and restoration phases accessible to visitors of the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Egyptian-Japanese team has completed the restoration and installation of 16 wooden pieces representing the floor of King Khufu’s second boat. Work continues on the remaining parts of the boat inside the King Khufu Boat Museum. This effort is part of a comprehensive plan to reassemble the boat’s wooden components and secure them onto a specially designed metal framework, based on studies and documentation conducted on its elements, and using the latest specialized conservation technologies.

The project is implemented within the framework of Egyptian-Japanese cooperation, with participation from the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and Nihon Fukushi University, and with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), reflecting the enduring partnership between the two countries in the fields of archaeology and heritage conservation.

Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, emphasized that the restoration and reassembly project of King Khufu’s second boat demonstrates the specialized expertise possessed by Egypt and Japan in conserving organic antiquities. He noted that the ongoing cooperation between the two sides represents an important model for international partnerships in archaeology, through the exchange of expertise and the utilization of the latest scientific methods and technologies for heritage preservation.

He added that the project aligns with the Ministry’s commitment to enhancing international cooperation in archaeology and heritage, leveraging specialized expertise to help preserve Egypt’s civilizational legacy and make it available to current and future generations.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Ghanem, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum Authority, explained that the reassembly project of Khufu’s second boat represents a significant artistic and scientific challenge, due to the nature and condition of the archaeological wood, as well as the large number of pieces requiring precise documentation, treatment, and assembly.

In the same context, Dr. Sakoji Yoshimura, President of Nihon Fukushi University and head of the Japanese side of the project, expressed his pride in the extended research cooperation with the Egyptian side, emphasizing the project’s importance in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage conservation. He affirmed the Japanese side’s commitment to continuing work with the Grand Egyptian Museum and specialized Egyptian teams, contributing to completing the project’s phases in accordance with established scientific and technical standards, and enhancing the exchange of expertise and technologies between the two sides.