The CEA is a recognised unit of the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Our work is financed by the French Ministries of Education, Research and Foreign Affairs, the French Archaeological School of Athens and the Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale in Cairo (IFAO), which also provides considerable technical assistance. In addition, certain sponsors have supported specific campaigns. From 1995 to 1998, Elf-Aquitaine and the Fondation EDF supported the underwater excavations of the Pharos and the Greek and Roman shipwrecks. In 1997, the television channel France 2 provided funds for five months' work on the Necropolis and in 2000 contributed to the financing of the Lux dig. In 1999, the Japanese television station, NHK, gave funding for work on the Necropolis and since 1999 the excavation of the Fouad Street site has been supported by France Telecom. Other companies, such as Leica, GB-Concept, Scubapro and Zodiac, have since 1995 contributed material support.

The multi-media company Gedeon Productions has done much to present the work of the CEA to the general public through their award-winning documentary films of our excavations, both on land and underwater.

Finally, in 1996 a "Friends of the CEA" association (registered under French charity law) was established in order that the public could also participate in the financing of the CEA's efforts to rediscover the capital of the Ptolemies.

The bay of Alexandria, Qaitbay Fort

Photo © CEA