Egypt Historic Cemeteries

Construction work on a highway flyover in a portion cleared of graves in the City of Dead in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, July 26, 2020. The overpass cuts through the Southern Cemetery, a sprawling necropolis that was first used 1,300 years ago and has been the burial place of nobles, holy men, scholars, poets and commoners ever since. Medieval guidebooks once traced itineraries for pilgrims to visit the graves of saint for blessings. Authorities say no ancient monuments were damaged in the construction, but preservationists are mourning the destruction to an urban fabric that was intact for centuries. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) NM509