Group of archaeologists headed by German professor Rudolf Kuper have been exploring ancient frescoes in the region of Gilf Al Kebir plateau that is located at the border of Egypt, Sudan and Libya, and found drawings made by tourists over the unique rock. The image of Bob Marley and also a half-naked woman were drawn right on the surface of the very valuable ancient frescoes. Besides, frescoes that are of 5-7 thousand years old, look just motley with autographs of vandal-tourists.
About 800 tourists per year visit this remote desert region located 500 kilometers far from Cairo, it is expected that in the year 2007 there will come about 1000 tourists there. These frescoes are so popular partly due to the Michael Ondaatje’s novel “The English Patient” and its screen version (Cave of dippers famous for its paintings is mentioned both in the book and in the film).
Professor Kuper and the High Board on investigations of the ancient remains of Egypt are organizing a museum and instructive centre in Dakhla oasis from where the most of excursions depart to inland of desert. At the same time the volunteers from local residents, as well as students and European protectors of ancient art, arrive to fresco complexes to pick up the garbage. In the year 2005 they took away from Gilf Al Kebir 11 tons of garbage, in 2006 – 4,5 tons.
In December Sudan, Libya and Egypt are planning to hold three-party consultations on preservation of rock paintings in the region. Egypt has already done the sector it owns a national park, the neighboring countries should do the same in prospect. After that Sudan, Libya and Egypt are going to apply to UNESCO for this region would get a status of protected monument of the world heritage.
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