The Institut français d'archéologie orientale (or IFAO), also known as the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, is a French research institute based in Cairo, Egypt, dedicated to the study of the archaeology, history and languages of the various periods of Egypt's civilisation. The IFAO is under the authority of the French Ministry for National Education, Advanced Instruction, and Research. The Institute conducts archaeological excavations and also publishes a number of books and journals. History The IFAO was created on 28 December 1880 by a signed decree of the French Minister of Public Instruction and Fine Arts Jules Ferry, which created a permanent Mission in Cairo, intended as a counterpart in Egypt of the French School at Athens (Ecole française d'Athènes) and French School of Rome (Ecole française de Rome), under the name of French School of Cairo (École française du Caire). The School adopted its current name of Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale in 1898. In 1907, the IFAO moved into Mounira Palace. In 1929, a restoration of the building is undertaken, which includes the replacement of the art nouveau decoration on the façade with neo-classical. Since February 2011, the IFAO has been a part of the network, Écoles françaises à l’étranger (EFE), made of five higher education and research establishments. The other four establishments are École française d'Athènes (French School in Athens), École française de Rome (French School in Rome), École française d’Extrême-Orient (French School of the Far East), and Casa de Velázquez, Madrid. Administration Directors 1880–1881: Gaston Maspero 1881–1883: Eugène Lefébure 1883–1886: Eugène Grébaut 1886–1898: Urbain Bouriant 1898–1912: Émile Chassinat 1912 Mgr Louis Duchesne 1912–1914: Pierre Lacau 1914–1928: Georges Foucart 1928–1940: Pierre Jouguet 1940–1953: Charles Kuentz 1953–1959: Jean Sainte-Fare Garnot 1959–1969: François Daumas 1969–1976: Serge Sauneron 1977–1981: Jean Vercoutter 1981–1989: Paule Posener-Kriéger 1989–1999: Nicolas Grimal 1999–2005: Bernard Mathieu 2005–2010: Laure Pantalacci 2010–2015: Béatrix Midant-Reynes 2015–2019: Laurent Bavay Since 2019: Laurent Coulon Head of Scientific and Technical Relations Jean-Pierre Corteggiani Recent IFAO archaeological excavations This section originally from French Wikipedia article: Fouille archéologique en Égypte Abu Roash, directed by Michel Baud 25 March - 28 April 2004 (10th expedition) Adaima 1 November - 15 December 2003 (15th expedition) 'Ayn-Manawir (Kharga Oasis) 4 October - 28 December 2003 7 October 2005 - 7 January 2006 'Ayn Soukhna, in collaboration with the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities 4 January - 8 February 2004 Bahariya Oasis, directed by Frederic Hake 27