A: Kent Weeks Responds:
Thebes is one of the world's most important archaeological zones. Sadly, however, it has not fared well over the years. Treasure hunters and curio seekers plundered it in the past; pollution, rising groundwater and mass tourism threaten it in the present. Even early archaeologists destroyed valuable information in their search for museum-quality pieces.

Today, however, we realize the monuments of Thebes are a finite resource. If we fail to protect and monitor them, they will vanish, and we and our descendants will all be the poorer. The Theban Mapping Project believes that the first and most essential step in preserving this heritage is a detailed map and database of every archaeological, geological and ethnographic feature in Thebes. Only when these are available can sensible plans be made for tourism, conservation and further study.

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