Egypt repatriates many rare archaeological artifacts smuggled to the US

According to a VNA correspondent in Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on May 12 that the country had successfully repatriated 25 rare archaeological artifacts that were smuggled to the US.

These artifacts date back thousands of years, spanning centuries of Egyptian civilization. The repatriation process took place after three years of efforts by the Egyptian Consulate in the United States, in close coordination with relevant agencies of the host country.

Among the artifacts returned to Egypt by the United States were gilded stone and wood coffin lids dating back more than 5,500 years, gilded and ceramic funeral masks, a large alabaster vase, a Greco-Roman mummy portrait of the Fayoum known for its remarkable authenticity, several cult objects believed to be related to Queen Hatshepsut, a gold coin from King Ptolemy I, and several artifacts made from ivory and alabaster.

Mr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled - Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt (SCA) - stated that the above artifacts were excavated and smuggled abroad illegally, not stolen from museum collections.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recovered the artifacts, based on close cooperation with US authorities, including the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

According to the Egyptian government , this is one of the most important archaeological recoveries in the country in recent years.

“This achievement reflects the dedication of all state institutions to preserving Egypt's national identity and historical heritage,” said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy.

Shaaban Abdel Gawad, Egypt's head of antiquities repatriation, also said the move showed "growing cooperation between Egypt and the United States in tackling the illicit trafficking of cultural property."

According to the plan, the repatriated artifacts will be restored at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo before being displayed in exhibitions.

Since 2022, Egypt has stepped up efforts to track and recover artifacts illegally taken across its borders in order to repatriate the North African country’s precious archaeological heritage. The government said it has repatriated nearly 30,000 artifacts from abroad over the past decade./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ai-cap-hoi-huong-nhieu-hien-vat-khao-co-quy-hiem-bi-buon-lau-sang-my-post1038232.vnp