Cairo – Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El Anany and Brinton Bohling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the graduation of 24 Ministry of Antiquities’ employees today from the USAID-funded Memphis Site and Community Development Field School. The graduation ceremony caps off an intensive four-month training program for Ministry inspectors to strengthen their professional skills in managing Egypt’s antiquities. 

“We are honored to support the stewards of Egypt’s priceless heritage sites –sites like Mit Rahina in Egypt’s first capital, Memphis,” said USAID/Egypt Economic Growth Director Brinton Bohling.  “We hope the Memphis Walking Trail will be one of the new destinations on each visitor’s itinerary.”  

The project is developing eight sites on the Memphis Walking Circuit at Mit Rahina, including the chapel of Ramesses II and the Great Ptah Temple.  In coordination with the Ministry of Antiquities, it is also conducting four field schools to train 80 Ministry of Antiquities’ staff on site management. The project is implemented by the Ancient Egypt Research Associates and the University of York. 

The American people, through USAID, have provided assistance valued at over $100 million since 1992 for the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Old Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, Sohag, and Red Sea sites.