Grand Egyptian Museum receives 68 ancient artifacts

CAIRO – 15 November 2021: The Grand Egyptian Museum received 68 artifacts, including 16 pieces from the treasures of the Golden King Tutankhamun.

One of the transferred artifacts - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

This was stated by Atef Moftah, the general supervisor of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the surrounding area.

One of the transferred artifacts - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

For his part, Assistant Minister of Tourism and Antiquities for Archaeological Affairs at the Grand Egyptian Museum El-Tayeb Abbas explained that the artifacts arrived safely amid the Tourism, Antiquities and Rescue Police's tight security measures, and noted that the artifacts comprise 52 heavy antiquities that will be displayed inside the main exhibition halls of the museum. 

One of the transferred artifacts - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

One of the transferred artifacts - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

The most important pieces include a group of statues depicting King Senusret I in the Osiris position and a limestone sarcophagus of a person named Ahmose Psamtik, which was discovered in the Tuna El-Gabal area in Minya Governorate, in addition to an alabaster sarcophagus of Queen Hetepheres from the Old Kingdom and a pink granite statue of the deity Serapis.

One of the transferred artifacts - Min. of Tourism & Antiquities

Abbas added that the 16 pieces of the Tutankhamun treasures consist of a distinguished group of alabaster pots, which are now installed inside their showcases in King Tutankhamun's hall, according to the previously scheduled display scenario.

Moreover, Director General of Executive Affairs for the Restoration and Transfer of Antiquities at the Grand Egyptian Museum Issa Zeidan indicated that before packing these pieces, the restorers carried out the proper scientific and archaeological documentation and wrote a report highlighting each piece's condition.

The artifacts were also mechanically cleaned and some of them were reinforced, under the supervision of the work team from the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Zeidan added that the pieces were wrapped using scientific methods using safe packaging materials and were placed inside wooden boxes lined with reinforced foam from the inside.

The heavy objects are now being restored and maintained in the Heavy Antiquities Restoration Laboratory, in preparation for their transfer to the main exhibition halls.