Third annual Tutankhamun conference kicks off Saturday

CAIRO, 6 May 2017: Ahmed Basha Kamal Hall at the Ministry of Antiquities witnessed a few hours ago the inauguration of the King Tutankhamun International Conference, organized by the Egyptian Museum.

This conference has been held annually since 2015 to discuss ways of restoring and preserving the king’s monuments, as well as finding the optimum means to safely transfer them from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square to the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids.

“This conference, which is now in its third year, is extremely vital to highlight the latest discoveries and research papers related to one of the most important kings of ancient Egypt, Tutankhamun,’’ said Mahmoud Afifi, head of the Egyptian antiquities sector.

Faiza Heikal, the conference chairman and Egyptology professor at the American University in Cairo, mentioned that King Tutankhamun and his monuments are excellent material for researchers and archaeologists. The annual conference of the “Golden King” regularly attracts worldwide interest and attention.

During the conference, Tarek Tawfiq, the Egyptian Museum’s general supervisor, stated that they will be discussing all the issues pertaining to King Tutankhamun’s valuable pieces, such as his throne and boxes, in addition to their display and preparation of the exhibition halls.

“The recommendations of the conference, since its start in 2015, are taken into consideration to add to this great king’s history,’’ added Heikal.

Archaeologists from six different countries, namely France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Denmark will be attending this year, according to Tawfiq. Topics like the human remains of King Tutankhamun and ways to compare them to the DNA findings of his family will be their focus of discussion.

Moreover, talks about the suitable means of restoring, maintaining and displaying king Tutankhamun’s funerary furniture will be on the schedule.

Tawfiq welcomed the attendees and invited them to a tour to be held on May 6 at 5:00 p.m. at the Egyptian Museum located in Tahrir Square. The conference will continue for three consecutive days, and will include a series of scientific lectures on the history and tomb of King Tutankhamun.