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Exclusive: Full Story in English Sailing towards the sun, the Solar boat of King Kkufu journey to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The first solar boat of king Khufu, discovered in 1954 at the southern corner of the Great Pyramid, has terminated its long journey to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM). The aim of the transportation project is to protect and preserve the biggest and oldest organic artifact made of wood, in the history of humanity for the future generations. The 4600-year-old boat was exhibited inside the a museum that bearing its name at Giza Plateau which was not equipped with the latest technological equipment to house and display this magnificent artifact. Major General Atef Moftah, Supervisor General of the GEM project and the surrounding area, describes the transportation of Khufu’s first boat as one of the most important, challenging, and unique archaeological and engineering project. He asserted that the work team exerted all its effort to the success of the transportation procedures which took almost a year of study, planning and good preparation. He added that the transportation process was carried out accurately to ensure the safety and protection of the boat which was transported as a single piece inside a metal cage lifted on a smart remote-control vehicle especially imported from abroad for such process. The vehicle has a superior ability to overcome any obstacles that may be encountered on the road, and the ability to maneuvering in curves and coils as well as absorbing any vibrations while moving. The smart vehicle has proven its ability to carry out the task assigned to transport the boat successfully, Moftah pointed out. He continued that during the numerous simulation carried out during the preparation for the transfer, the vehicle proved success as it made the same trip loaded with the same weights and dimensions of the boat, which is 42 meters long and weighs 20 tons, with the installation of special measurement devices to test the performance of the vehicle, the stability of the metal cage and the inclination of the road, to ensure that the boat arrives safely. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities asserted that the transportation process was carried out after the approval of the Permanent Committee of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities in accordance with the Antiquities Protection Law to protect the boat from its outdated old exhibition museum which marred the beauty of Khufu pyramid, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, for decades. In August 2020, the old boat museum was closed and preparation work for the transfer began. Khufu’s first boat was then packed with special scientific foams and put inside a metal cage to protect it during transfer, which lasted fir 48 hours. Eltayeb Abbas, Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for GEM Archaeological Affairs said that before the transfer a radar survey for the ground under the old museum and along the eastern paved road in Giza Plateau was carried out to guarantee its ability to support the weights of the vehicle loaded with the metal cage and the boat as well as all the equipment used during the process. Eissa Zidan, Executive Director General of Conservation and transportation of Artifacts told said that before the transportation, the boat was scientifically and archaeologically examined and a detailed report on its conservation condition was prepared. The whole was mechanically cleaned and sterilized along all the preparation process. Its weak areas were consolidated and cracks repaired. Before its installation inside the metal cage, Zidan said, the boat has been wrapped with special papers and foams as well as surrounded with special padded frame that was then fixed to the cage in order to prevent any movement during transportation. Monitoring devices were also installed to monitor minute by minute the temperature and the humidity percentage within the boat as well as the vibration rate during transportation. Now the boat is at its new permanent display in Khufu Boats Museum as a part of the Grand Egyptian Museum where it will be restored. #Egypt #egyptology #Cairo #GEM #khufuboatparade #khufusolarboat #LuxorTimes #Archaeology
