Ancient Monuments: A Reminiscence Of Ethiopia's Glories. Recommendations For A Lasting Solution (Part Two)

Before I present my suggestions on preservation of The Ancient Monuments I would like to thank the valuable advise I received from Preservation specialists, Architects from various countries of Eastern and to a lesser extent from Western Europe.

Furthermore, I would like readers to know that Ethiopia is not only a secret society but rather (also) ruled by a brutal minority tyrant junta from Tigray usually known by the name Agames and their party, The TPLF (Tigray People Liberation Movement) who have been in power at the point of a gun and with SS Gestapo type of secret service training starting from 1991 by the English MI 16.

There is no free press, no Independent private radio or TV. Journalists, bloggers. Opposition politicians are languishing in prison or actually in the concentration camps where those in the cells are packed like sardines and these prisoners are brutally tortured using sub-human methods. These include inserting electric shock iron bars into their anal aperture, beatings with rifle butts and tying of bottle of water to men's testicles. In 2012, the British Government agreed to spend £ 2 million to fund a series of master's degrees in "Security Sector Management" for 75 Ethiopian junta officials. All these were and are done for three basic reasons: 1. To stay in power indefinitely. 2. To loot the country's wealth indefinitely to develop Tigray, both Agriculturally and Industrially. 3. To loot and accumulate wealth in the Banks located in the regional capital Mekele and create Agame multi millionaires and multi billionaires whereas the 90.5 million majority in a country of 95,2 million people live in abject poverty with poor infrastructure and inadequate electricity. Tigray on the other hand is electrified and is developing at a very fast rate both agriculturally and industrially.

It was shocking to realize that when the former PM. Zenawi was still in power $11 billion dollars was robbed by him, his wife Azeb Mesfin and his party cronies and transferred to Tigray. The country endowed with gold, diamond and Sapphire as well as Opal, Tantalum and very rare type of blue, white and gray marbles, and very hard brown granite. These valuable minerals and rare stones are located in western and south eastern part of the country and not in Tigray. They are leased without any competitions to a Saudi multi billionaire, Muhammed Al-Amoudin who is selling the gold to Saudis, Qatar and Dubai at cheap prices. The marbles and rare and strong brown granite from western Ethiopia where one of the ancient monuments are located are sold at cheap prices to Italy and China including the rare and valuable blue marble called Eshet Blue (=Blue fruit).

Marble and granite have been mined since ancient times in Ethiopia and there is a wide range of colors and the quality is supreme and also large blocks as big as 2-3 meters can be mined. When the country is left with empty holes nobody is for example going to sell the rare mineral used in electronics and satellite industry like Tantalum even with a 100 times more expensive price to Ethiopia or any other African country. Where is the money going from tax and profit sharing agreement, if there was any In the first place. The tax money is definitely going to the pockets of the Agame junta and their development agency called EFFORT.

Going back to the solution to the Ancient Monuments that are getting destroyed as we speak.

Let us start with Lalibella Monolitic 11 Churches that are in the verge of getting destroyed and turned into sand dunes.

1. The first step that must be taken is to protect the roofs by strong galvanized iron pillar supported ETFE Foil - (= Etylene tetraflouro ethylene), The newest development in the fabric structure arena Which is a transparent membrane with fabric like qualities and the advantage of this material is not only its cost benefits but also the material obtains a self cleaning Capability, resistance to the atmospheric pollution and UV light, ETFE has a very long expected lifespan of more than 20 years. Effective thermal performance average U value is 2.6W/meter square for a two layer system and high light transmission, 95% visible light which will make is easy for the people working on the roof. And it is more than 20 times lighter than glass and is ecological friendly, with no petrochemical derivatives and finally it is 100% recyclable. There are other materials in the market but what makes ETFE the number one choice for protecting the Monuments till preservation work is completed is all the above mentioned qualities of the material. And once the preservation work is completed in Lalibela the material can easily be air lifted to western Ethiopia to Fasiledes, Gonder and be used there. Since its lifespan is more than 20 years it can also be used in other places and or stored and reused in follow-up work

2. The second step in case of Lalibela is to clean the roof and walls. All these needs a team work of 1.preservation specialists. 2. Architects and 3. Highly practiced masons/bricklayers This last group must be constantly supervised to effectively complete the preservation work by other highly experienced specialists in the field.

To clean the roof and walls out of the accumulated dangerous sulfuric and nitric acids is a very demanding job and needs qualified or crush trained personnel like for example in Russia which is having the oldest preservation experience dating back to the Tsar Russia continuing to the U.S.S.R and now with the Institution already in place long ago, the tradition of preservation of Ancient Monuments continues in Russian Federation where the elder generation prepares and train a highly qualified personnel's in all the different fields, from masons to metal workers that will specialize in gilding and rain and ground water preventive workers where in each field there are from 20-50 experts who knows the inns and outs of their respective field.

Going back to cleaning: There are several methods but probably in case of the fragile state of Lalibela there can be three primary choices: 1. Mechanical or abrasive cleaning, this involves dry or wet medium sand paper and a minimal vibrating grinding machine, soft brushes and vacuum cleaners. The work has to be supervised on a minute to minute basis by professional persons under the supervision of preservation specialist, architecture and constructor. All the personnels must be provided with jump suits, durable gloves, knee soft protectors since the mechanical cleaning has to be done manually and masks. 2. If after taking samples and PH level of the hazardous acids in the building still needs further work, then the first step can be complemented by water cleaning :Misting. This includes misting, pressure washing, brushing and steam cleaning and drying. In Misting because of the very small amount of water used, the procedure is most gentle and therefore the best way to use pressurized water for cleaning Historical buildings. This technique requires compressed air which is mixed with small quantities of water produces a nobulized water mist through jets evenly spread and in the proximity of the area to be cleaned. The temperature of the water maybe varied depending on the type of the Chemical dirt and the surface to be cleaned. To be effective and avoid drifting the Mist must be enclosed by sealed scaffolding. The advantage of the technique is that it can provide sufficient moisture over a period (usually One week) to soften and loosen the Chemical dirt while minimizing the amount of water used, consequently greatly reducing the risk of water penetration.

Finally it has to be brushed and vacuum cleaned.
3. The last and less favorable measure of procedure is to use organic and non organic materials to clean the hazardous Chemicals stacked in the roofs and walls of Lalibella Monolitic Churches. This includes the use Hydrogen Chloride (HCL) in water. It should never be used in a concentration exceeding 3-4%.

After successfully cleaning and drying the roof top and the walls, first the cracks must be filled with a high quality materials like: crack resistant concrete mix(pre blended combination of cement, sand and synthetic fibers; Sand/Topping mix ; pre blended combination of cement and fine sand, which is a high strength mix that provides a creamy texture ideal for trowling to a smooth finish.

Each crack must be repaired both from outside and inside the Monuments.

Before we go to the final touch and Finnish line, Drainage must be applied. Under the supervision of the mentioned specialists a water drainage system from the roof top connected to downspouts under the surface of the ground with a PVC, a PP or a PE. Where the underground pipes are usually from 80-120 cm under the ground and with a gradient from 0,25 to 1% and must be directed far away from these ancient Monuments.

Finally, a granite cutting and polishing and also semi polishing with a slightly unseen but sort of rough surface for stairs can be purchased which costs approximately $40,000 to $60.000. Polished brown granite can be prepared in suitable size and shape(square or rectangular) for the roof top and the walls. They don't need to be so thick for the roof and walls but thick ones are the primary choice for the stairs and with a less polished Surface to avoid the surface becoming slippery. For the crosses on top of the roof an extreme Measurement accuracy and precision is needed in coordination of all the mentioned experts. Once the granites are ready a highly qualified masonries Using the finest and strongest and durable cement, Under the supervision of the Above mentioned team can start the the renovating and preserving work.

Notice: The granite cutting and polishing and semi polishing machine can be used to construct so many different buildings like Libraries, museums, research centers where part of the buildings material can be a polished brown granite.

Fasiledes Monuments:
In western part of Ethiopia there is a Soviet built Bahir Dar Polytechnic Institute which every year graduates highly qualified specialist in different fields including in metal work.

In cooperation with The Russian federation either all the above mentioned specialists and the metal work graduates can get either a know how transfer locally or take a 6 month course in their respective fields from one of the worlds oldest and experienced institute and experts in Russia.

Again the roofs has to be protected primarily with the same ETFE foil and galvanized poles and the preservation work can start also from the roof. For the purpose a different kind of machines have to be Purchased than for Lalibela Monumental Monolitic Churches.

This is primarily and almost only machines for gilding which costs from $700 (seven-hundred) to $1,300.

To preserve the Ancient Monuments of Fasiledes let us start with the dome shaped roofs which needs a gilded material. For the purpose a substructure must be built as they form the base onto which the gilding will adhere: these includes wood; metal; stone; plaster and papier-mâché. Though the most common leaf is gold 1/250,000 of a 2.54 Clare used. There are other metals that can be used in place of gold, such metals are: Silver Leaf, Platinum leaf, Copper Leaf and the respective tools including agate burnishes, glaze sand guilders; tip brushes;

Once the Castles and Churches roofs are glittering as in their glorious days, the construction can continue preserving and repairing the collapsed roofs,walls and cracks and once again the same brown granite cutting and polishing and semi polishing machine can be used to renovate, preserve the walls from inside and outside and the stairs covered once again with brown granite with a not so polished surface to avoid slippery surfaces of the stairs and finally the bath of Fasiledes supporting structures must be strengthened and the roof and the walls renovated. For the purpose the expert team can consult constructors and preserver teams in Venice since they have a comparatively long history of preserving and renovating buildings basements submerged under water. Last but not least the bath must have a drainage system as in its glorious days and anti Bilharzia or schistosomiasis naturopathic or modern medicines must be spread upstream so that the people who are celebrating Epiphany will not be infected with this dangerous tropical disease. The same way anti Bilharzia= anti schistosomiasis agents at least like the local plant Endod must be processed in a liquid form and spread all around the Blue Nile which Ethiopians call Abay so that the population will be healthy and more productive with a longer life expectancy.

The estimated cost of the two monuments according to experts is less than I ever imagined. They put the cost of the two monuments and of course that included machinery, and total salary at an estimated cost of $480,000 and $530,000 which is by approximately 20 times cheaper than One older version of a military jet Su-25 Or half of the cost of also Ethiopia's tank T72. The interesting part is that the project can be successful highlighting the pride of Ethiopia.

I would like at this point in the conclusion, to express my deepest sense of gratitude to my great friend Professor Addisu Koch who provided me with additional vital information. I am grateful.

Markos Lemma MD,Phd