Cairo, March 2017: Construction workers make a spectacular discovery beneath metres of rubble. At the bottom of a deep pit, buried in mud and debris, lies an enormous crowned stone head. Nearby the torso and plinth. These are the remains of a colossal quartzite statue, 9 metres high and weighing several tons. It s an archaeological sensation, a clear indication that this was once the heart of an ancient, legendary metropolis: Heliopolis. The battle to secure the site for archaeological exploration and excavating the ancient city s remains is ongoing: it s a race against time to save a key part of what remains of ancient Egypt s heritage. Date: 2023-02-12
