An exclusive interview with Egyptian archeologist Zahi Hawass (picture above) is the highlight of ANBA Bulletin, extraordinarily sent on Tuesday (18). The Egyptologist is in Brazil for a series of lectures and visited Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo. He talked about his most recent excavations and said he hopes to announce a new finding soon. ‘I hope to be able to end my career with the famous intact tomb of the Valley of the Kings,’ he said. The tomb he is referring to is Ankhesenamun’s, wife of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. ‘I’m [also] looking for the tomb of queen Tiye – wife of Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun’s grandmother – and maybe Nefertiti was buried somewhere on that valley, the West Valley,’ he added. The researcher pointed out his is the biggest excavation made on the Valley of the Kings, in Luxor, since Howard Carter, the British who discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, except his team is entirely Egyptian.

At the Arab Chamber, Hawass also said Egypt is safe for tourists and invited Brazilians to visit his country. “All of the [historic] sites are very safe. There is nothing that can happen to tourists,” he assured. He stressed tourism revenue is essential for the restoration of Ancient Egypt monuments, “a world heritage”.

The archeologist also regretted the fire that tore down the Rio de Janeiro National Museum in September 2^nd, describing is as a “dark day for the history of Egyptian archaeology.” The museum housed an important collection of Egyptian items such as mummies and artworks that was launched by former Brazilian emperor Dom Pedro II.