The phenomenon of illegal excavation of The Monuments from a sociological perspective A Field Study at Shotb village in Assiut Governorate

            The current study aimed at recognizing the social dimensions of the phenomenon of illegal excavation for the monuments in Upper Egypt. The researcher used the perspective method with dependence on the  social survey method of the sample .The field study was applied on a random sample of the Shotb village  citizens  whose number was 293 person .A questionnaire form was designed by the researcher was used after being peer- reviewed. Some experts at the village helped the researcher to gather  detailed and profound  information  about this phenomenon. The study results showed ,in general, that the absence of political settlement and security after the 25th January revolution led  to the increasing of illegal excavation for monuments activities by the peoples. The study also showed that there is significant relations between poverty and unemployment  and the persons tendence toward excavating of monuments. The study also showed that the excavators always have other illegal activities such as trading of drugs and weapons as well as deception. The study clarified the effect of illegal excavation on the health of excavators as they are posed to  injuries, hard breathing and death due to the unplanned and random ways of excavation. The study clarified the study sample awareness that the  effect of illegal  excavation led to; stealing the country wealth, its cultural and civilizational landmaks and sending them  abroad, and damaging the ancient monuments which have