Egypt says 36 stolen historical artifacts handed over by US authorities

Cairo- Thirty-six historical artifacts illegally taken from Egypt have been recovered from the United States in cooperation with American authorities, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Thursday.

“The artifacts were delivered by American authorities to the Egyptian embassy in the United States and arrived in Egypt about two weeks ago,” Nevine El-Aref, the ministry’s media advisor, told News themezone.

Three main sets of artifacts were recovered, the first consisting of 11 items turned over by the New York State Attorney General’s office. Among them is a mummy funerary mask that belonged to a young man from Roman times, a vessel in the shape of the god Bes and a limestone funerary stele, an inscribed tombstone, also from Roman times.

In May, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it had returned to the people of Egypt 11 antiquities that were recovered through multiple criminal investigations.

“Eleven more priceless antiques have been recovered and returned to where they rightfully belong,” District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. said in a statement at the time. “None of this work is possible without the dedication and commitment of our team, and I thank them for their work on these investigations.”

The second group was delivered by the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Egyptian Consulate in New York. It includes 24 rare manuscripts with writings in the ancient Coptic and Syriac languages.

The third group consisted of a colored plaster panel from the 18th Dynasty, about 3,000 years ago, that was confiscated by the New York State Attorney General’s office after it was determined to have been illegally removed from Egypt.

“Any artifact that belongs to Egypt’s heritage is important. Even if it’s a small stone, it’s important to bring it back to Egypt where it belongs,” El-Aref told News themezone. “It is very important for Egypt to preserve its archaeological heritage and history and pass them on to the next generations.”

An archaeological committee received the pieces, which will be displayed at the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo after their restoration, the ministry said.

Egyptian officials constantly monitor the Internet for illegally smuggled artifacts, and whenever something appears online, they collaborate with authorities around the world to bring them home, El-Aref said.

Prime Minister of the Netherlands he said just a few days ago that his country would return a stolen 3,500-year-old sculpture to Egypt. His announcement came after he attended the Official opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum ceremony on November 1.