Hydrogeophysical Investigation at Luxor, Southern Egypt

Abstract

Over the past [Formula: see text], the exposed stone foundations of the ancient Egyptian monuments at Luxor have deteriorated at an alarmingly accelerated rate. Accelerated deterioration is attributable to three principal factors: 1) excavation and exposure of foundation stone; 2) construction of the Aswan High Dam; and 3) changes in the regional groundwater regime. In an effort to better elucidate the hydrostratigraphy in the Luxor study area that extends from the River Nile to the boundaries of the Nile Valley and covers about [Formula: see text], a geophysical∕hydrological investigation was conducted. Forty Schlumberger vertical electrical soundings (VES), two approximately [Formula: see text] long seismic refraction profiles and a total number of 39 groundwater and surface water samples were acquired. Based on the integrated interpretation of the acquired geophysical∕hydrological data, the main contributions of this study were the geophysical definition of the hydrostratigraphy using resistivity (seven distinct geologic∕ hydrologic units were mapped), the mapping of the water table using seismic refraction and the mapping of groundwater salinity trends through geochemical sampling. The factors contributing to the rise of groundwater and its accompanying increase in salinity were identified and documented. This characterization establishes a model for evaluating various plans to lower groundwater levels and salinities in the areas of archeological monuments.

Stratigraphic landscape analysis: Charting the Holocene movements of the Nile at Karnak through ancient Egyptian time

“…The orientation of the initial 12th Dynasty temple (east and west facing) and the Temple of Montu (location 5, Figure 2) at North Karnak (north facing), are consistent with an approach from the water at the time of foundation, suggesting that the foundation of the earliest temple of Karnak was on an island. The location of our postulated island is flanked to the east by the silty-clay geoelectric unit identified by Ismail, Anderson, and Rogers (2005) from their resistivity survey, which they interpret as a possible former channel.…”

“…In another example to the northeast of the North Karnak tribune (location 1, Figure 2), altars of Akhenaten not in situ were found in gray muds. These muds, interpreted as still water deposits from a partially in-filled channel previously cut off and correlated with the geoelectric unit of Ismail, Anderson, and Rogers (2005), suggest that at the time of destruction of the Akhenaten temple there was a body of still water into which the altars were thrown.…”

The impact of groundwater and agricultural expansion on the archaeological sites at Luxor, Egypt

“…It is represented by Armant Formation which is composed of clay, sand and gravel (Awad et al, 1997;Kamel, 2004;Ismail et al, 2005). The aquifer has more thickness near the Quaternary aquifer and decreases towards the Eocene limestone boundary on both sides of the Nile valley.…”

Studies on the Effect of Natural Treatment on Sewage Water, El-Salhiya - Qena City, Egypt

“…The depth to groundwater in the Quaternary aquifer as measured from some available wells varies from 30 m to about 120 m. The Plio-Pleistocene aquifer this aquifer represents the secondary aquifer in the study area and exposed at the outer fringes of the Nile aquifer system adjacent to the floodplain. It is composed of clay sand, and gravel (Kamel, 2004;Ismail et al, 2005). The Plio-Pleistocene aquifer has more thickness near the Quaternary aquifer and decreases towards the Eocene limestone boundary on both sides of the Nile valley.…”