The work was carried out by a joint Egyptian-French mission led by the Franco-Egyptian Center for the Study of the Temples of Karnak, in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the National Centre for Scientific Research (NRC). The mission completed the reconstruction and restoration of the northern gateway of the enclosure wall built by King Ramesses II, located north of the Karnak complex.
The project, carried out between 2022 and 2025 in the northwestern sector of the temple precinct, forms part of ongoing efforts to preserve and better understand the site.
In parallel with the restoration work, archaeologists uncovered a sandstone stela measuring about 60 by 40 centimetres. The artifact depicts Emperor Tiberius standing before the Theban triad—Amun-Re, Mut, and Khonsu—and includes a five-line hieroglyphic inscription documenting restoration work on the enclosure wall of the Temple of Amun-Re.
Sherif Fathy, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, described the collaboration between Egyptian and French teams as a "model of international cooperation in heritage preservation". He noted that the project forms part of a broader development plan for Karnak temples, aimed at upgrading the open-air museum and improving visitor services to enhance the overall tourist experience.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary General of the SCA, said the restoration involved dismantling the gateway, conserving and documenting its stone blocks, and reassembling the structure using modern techniques. The work also revealed reused decorated blocks dating to the reign of Amenhotep III, suggesting the presence of an earlier gateway at the site.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA, said excavations uncovered remains of the northern enclosure wall of the Temple of Amun-Re, along with evidence of multiple construction phases spanning the New Kingdom and later Greek and Roman periods.
Abdel Ghaffar Wagdy, Director General of Luxor Antiquities, said that additional work in 2025 revealed a paved processional road linking the gateway of Ramesses III to the courtyard of the Third Pylon, an ancient route first documented in the early 20th century.
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the SCA and Head of the Egyptian side of the mission, explained that further excavations uncovered remains of the northern enclosure wall of the Temple of Amun-Re, along with evidence of multiple construction phases spanning the New Kingdom, as well as later Greek and Roman interventions.
Archaeologists believe these findings collectively contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the architectural evolution of Karnak across millennia, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s most significant religious and cultural centers.
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