As director general of Egypt's most significant archaeological sites, Zahi A. Hawass is driven by a passion to save the world's ancient monuments from natural and man-made forces that are threatening to destroy them. This month marks the completion of the restoration of the Great Sphinx of Egypt. It's the l atest milestone in a decade of innovative conservation efforts and historic archaeological discoveries since Zahi A. Hawass, Ph.D., became director general of the Giza Plateau, Saqqara, and Bahria Oasis 10 years ago at age 40 the youngest person appointed to the position. As director of the Sphinx Restoration Project, he organized a meeting that attracted more than 90 world-renowned scholars and scientists to strategize about conserving the global landmark.
Archaeology is a mystery world.
It's a world of magic. That's the reward that makes this my paradise. Hawass holds responsibilities as far-reaching memberships on Egypt's High Council of Culture and government committees shaping tourism, in addition to faculty positions at universities in the United States and Egypt. The former University of Pennsylvania Fulbright scholar directs many excavations, and during his almost 30 years in the field has worked every major archaeological site from Alexandria to Abu Simbel. Hawass' dissertation accurately predicted the location of the Workmen's Village southeast of the Sphinx.