An ancient wooden coffin cover that had been smuggled out of Egypt years ago is being returned to Egypt. The coffin cover has been in among the acquisitions of Houston Museum in the US.
Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) Mostafa Waziri said that the Egyptian Consul General in Houston Hossam al-Qawish has signed a protocol with the head of the unit for combatting smuggling of antiquities at the office of attorney general in New York, according to which the ancient Egyptian coffin cover would be returned to Egypt.
Mr Waziri said the recovery comes within the strenuous endeavours by Egypt to recover smuggled artefacts and antiquities through joint efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The over three-metre-long wooden coffin cover dates back to the Old Kingdom. It carries hieroglyphic inscriptions and has a green-coloured golden façade.
El-Qawish expressed his thanks and appreciation to the US authorities for their help in returning the Egyptian antique.
Watani International
2 October 2022