Speakers
Mr Ahmed FEKRY
Geophysicist and Hydrographic Surveyor, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
Biography:
Ahmed Mohamed Fekry Abdel Ghany Mohamed is a Geophysicist and hydrographic data acquisition and processing geoscientist at the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF). He studied Geophysics at the Faculty of Science, Alexandria University; and obtained an MSc degree in Marine Geophysics from the Faculty of Science, Tanta University. He took several training courses, including marine geophysical surveys training in the Eastern Harbor and Abu Qir Bay in Alexandria; applications of Geographic Information System (GIS) in vulnerability assessment of sea-level rise; and EdgeTech Sub-bottom Profiler and side scan sonar training courses. He also participated with the NIOF in a project entitled “Bathymetry Survey for El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant” as head of scientific field cruise team.
Abstract:
The Emerging Situation of Submerged Ancient Sites at the Eastern Harbor
Ahmed FEKRY
Suzan EL-GHARABAWY
Amr Z. Hamouda
Historical records show that natural phenomena, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, have destroyed our heritage, in addition to settlements built along the Eastern Harbor. It is disappointing how recent depositional activities bury submerged antiquities. The remains of the submerged ancient harbor is harmed by fishermen and by the construction of new structures at the current Eastern Harbor. The border of the submerged ancient harbor was discovered on the seafloor using side scan sonar.
This study focuses on submerged sites along the offshore coastal settings that are affected by human-influenced geohazards involving sediment destabilization and remobilization. Some settlements have been impacted by simple sea-level rise and/or damaged by powerful sudden storms. Recent observations have shown that sediment failure in low-lying coastal settings can also be directly influenced by human activity over submerged antiquities, especially where sites are positioned on weak vulnerable substrates. It is important to build a national project to protect our wealth, such as preventing the ancient Alexandria Lighthouse from sinking, to save our ancient heritage.