Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Monday that Cairo has successfully recovered a rare collection of 25 valuable historical treasures from the US, which had been smuggled out of the country illegally and belong to different eras of ancient Egyptian civilization, according to France 24.
Among the recovered artifacts are gilded wooden sarcophagus lids over 5,500 years old, a female portrait from the Fayoum region, and a panel from the Fayum Mummy portraits dating between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, France 24 reported. The collection also includes parts of a temple believed to belong to Queen Hatshepsut, small statues made of ivory, bronze, and stone, and a fragment of a granite foot dating between 1189 and 1292 BCE, from the Ramesside period.
The restitution of these antiquities was made possible after three years of cooperation between the Egyptian Consulate General in New York, the New York City District Attorney's Office, and U.S. security services, according to Youm7. The artifacts were located at the Egyptian consulate in New York and were recovered through a joint effort involving these entities. The recovery involved several different cases and lengthy negotiations with several individual owners, including private collectors.
"The recovery of this archaeological collection reflects the commitment of the Egyptian state and all its institutions to protect and preserve its unique cultural heritage," said Sherif Fathy, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, according to Youm7. He praised the constructive cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, and all relevant authorities both domestically and abroad, which resulted in this achievement.
Minister Sameh Shoukry emphasized the importance that Egypt attaches to the file of recovering smuggled Egyptian antiquities and their return to the homeland. He highlighted Egypt's historical and national responsibility to preserve this unique heritage for future generations, according to Youm7. "Protecting the cultural heritage is a national priority that cannot be compromised," Shoukry stated.
Badr Abdelatty, the Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Minister of Egypt, was keen to participate in the procedures of the Committee for the Recovery of Smuggled Antiquities, which received the artifacts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to AllAfrica. He emphasized the importance Egypt attaches to the issue of retrieving smuggled Egyptian antiquities and returning them home. Abdelatty praised the efforts made by Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian General Prosecutor's Office, and relevant state agencies to recover Egyptian artifacts, preserving the country's wealth.
The recovered antiquities are distinguished by their historical and artistic value. The collection features several small statues made of ivory, bronze, and stone, depicting aspects of ancient Egyptian beliefs and artistic traditions from historical periods. It also includes a group of jewelry made of metals and stones from the 4th century BCE, ceramic and gilded wooden funerary masks, a large alabaster vase, stone and wooden coffin lids, and a rare gold coin dating back to the reign of Ptolemy I.
The artifacts will be deposited in the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir for restoration and preparation for display in a temporary exhibition. A committee from the Supreme Council of Antiquities received the artifacts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad, according to Youm7.
The recovery efforts were part of the Egyptian government's continuous efforts to protect and preserve its archaeological and cultural heritage. "The Egyptian state is taking all necessary measures to recover its antiquities that left the country illegally," Shoukry stated, according to Youm7. Effective coordination with American authorities and international partners, along with extensive investigations, reflected the concerted efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of cultural properties.
Since the popular uprising of 2011 against then-President Hosni Mubarak, thousands of Egyptian artifacts have appeared on the international market, particularly through online sales or auctions, which underscores the ongoing issue of antiquities theft. Egypt claims to have recovered nearly 30,000 archaeological objects over the past ten years, as reported by France 24. However, antiquities theft remains common, and Egypt has intensified its global campaign in recent years to recover stolen antiquities, with all Egyptian missions abroad exerting efforts to ensure the return of Egyptian antiquities that left Egypt illegally to preserve the country's treasures.
The Ministry did not specify the circumstances of the objects' illegal departure from Egypt or how they were transported to the United States.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.