The temple, with its facade of four Ramses II colossi, is one of the country's most prominent heritage sites.

BBC: Egypt seeks museum design

Weeks' mapping project identified the entrance to KV5, the tombs of the sons of King Ramses II, at the spot where a bus turnaround was planned.

FORBES: Treasure saver

For thousands of years, the sitting figure of Ramses II watched over the Nil, till the construction of the Aswan dam threatened to drown the ancient temple under the waters of the river.

UNESCO: Culture

The Great Temple was first carved out of the mountain on the west bank of the Nile between 1274 and 1244BC, Ramses II's imposing temple was as much dedicated to the deified pharaoh himself as to the primeval Egyptian gods Ra-Horakhty, Amun and Ptah.

BBC: Abu Simbel: The great temple of Egypt

In October every year, the first rays of the rising sun reach across the Nile, penetrate the temple and move along the hypostyle hall, through the vestibule and into the sanctuary, where they illuminate the somewhat mutilated figures of Ra-Horakhty, Ramses II and Amun.

BBC: Abu Simbel: The great temple of Egypt