What is the Arabic for “reconstruction”? The question of reconstruction of ancient ruins in the Arab Region: the case of Egypt
Palabras clave:
ruins reconstruction, Arab region, traditional views, 19th century views, values of ancient ruinsResumen
Reconstruction of archaeological ruins is discouraged by international conventions and charters, as Stanley-Price rightly states. He explains the arguments for and against reconstruction according to values. But what if ruins have different values due to different cultures, worldviews, and value systems? What if they have different values within the same society? The present essay endeavors to identify the values of ancient ruins in the context of the Arab Region as an essential step preceding the reconstruction discussion. I suggest that the coexistence of both modern and traditional views in the Arab Region today impacts the understanding and appreciation of archaeological ruins and consequently their conservation or reconstruction. Decision makers and conservation professionals adopt modern views, while local communities in old urban and rural settlements adopt traditional views. Each set of views form the values of ancient ruins and the attitudes towards their conservation. I take a step back and deconstruct the significance of ancient ruins in the region today for each set of views, using most examples from my country, Egypt. Before addressing the question of reconstruction for archaeological ruins, it is necessary to reconcile both sets of views and identify common values for ancient ruins in the region.
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