A well-known pharaonic holy city, Abydos is among the most significant archaeological sites in ancient Egypt, located in the low desert areas west of the Nile River, 70 km south of Sohag city. The Osireion area in Abydos is exposed to the problem of seasonal groundwater level changes, which causes the deterioration of this important archaeological area over time. The main objective of this study is to understand groundwater conditions in the Osireion by monitoring the water level in the Osireion temple, the surrounding groundwater, and the River Nile over a year. An automatic datalogger monitoring system was installed in and around the Osireion to provide a more accurate record of groundwater level, dissolved solids, and temperature changes in the area, with readings recorded every 4 hours, starting in the first of July 2023. Chemical characteristics of groundwater as well as the water inflow into Osireion were investigated. The obtained data identified that the main recharge source of the Osireion is the groundwater of the Quaternary aquifer which is recharged from the recent River Nile water. Further investigation in the Osireion has revealed a dynamic flow regime through openings between the blocks and foundations of the temple discovered for the first time in history, Moreover, the fluctuation of water level under the given site is controlled by the interaction between the River Nile water at the upstream of Nag-Hammadi Barrage and groundwater in the area. The output data will provide a valuable database for researchers and the authorities to identify the source of the groundwater and help with a proposed plan for site management.

Biography: 

Dr. Ahmed M. Masoud is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Egypt. His research interests include groundwater assessment, environmental geochemistry, hydrogeochemistry, and water quality monitoring. He has contributed to several research works focusing on sustainable water resource management and environmental protection. Dr. Masoud is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environmental Studies (JES), and he is also actively involved in interdisciplinary research addressing environmental pollution, climate-related challenges, and sustainable development.