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What historical site impresses you the most? I've always been fascinated by the pyramids in Egypt. A few years ago I braved a long queue and climbed through a narrow passage to reach the main chamber deep inside one of them. Like millions of other tourists I marvelled at stoned-walled rooms full of the magic of this ancient civilisation.

But popularity might be the undoing of such archaeological treasures.

Take Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, for example. It lay untouched for more than 3,000 years until the British archaeologist Howard Carter uncovered it in 1922. Now more than 1,000 people a day walk through it.

But as more and more people visit, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb change. As a result, the beautifully decorated plaster is coming away from the rock.

In order to preserve its heritage, a replica of the monument is being opened about 1km away from the actual burial site. Specialists have recorded every detail of Tutankhamun's tomb and used the data to recreate it.

Adam Lowe from the organisation behind the project, Factum Arte, says the copy is identical to the original. He believes visitors will want to "become part of the force that protects it rather than a force that is leading to its destruction", so won't mind seeing a replica.

But for historian Tom Holland, a copy is still a copy. He believes that although preservation is important, there is something unique about places like Tutankhamun's tomb.

He says it was built "by people who believed in the world of the spirits, the dead and the supernatural. You don't have to believe in a god or gods to feel a place is consecrated and has a particular quality that can't be reproduced."

What about you: would you visit a replica of a monument rather than the original to help preserve it?

Quiz 测验

1. What did the author have to endure when visiting the pyramids?

A long queue and climbing a ladder in a narrow corridor.

2. How many people visit Tutankhamun's tomb each day?

More than 1,000 a day.

3. What is damaging the paintings on the walls of the tomb?

Changes in temperature and humidity.

4. Which two words are used to describe something which is not original?

Copy and replica.

5. Which two words are used to describe the maintenance of something in good condition?

Conservation and preservation.

Glossary 词汇表

historical site 历史遗址

pyramid 金子塔

to brave 不怕（排场队）

ancient 古老的

chamber 屋子

undoing 毁灭

archaeological treasure 考古珍宝

tomb 墓穴

untouched 没有触动过的

archaeologist 考古学家

to uncover 发掘

humidity 湿度

plaster 石膏，灰泥

heritage 遗迹

replica 复制品

burial site 墓地遗址

supernatural 超自然的

to consecrate 使圣化