Egypt

Egypt - The scale of the returns

Safe Corner (David Gill)

David Gill has highlighted the recent Al Ahram article by Nevine El-Aref on the Safe Corner blog, (the online community of the non-profit organization SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone), and has added a very useful pie chart showing the scale of returns of artefacts to Egypt over the last six years, by location.

The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has been active in seeking returns of looted antiquities ("Wrapping up smuggled goods", Al-Ahram, 3-9 July 2008). Some 3000 antiquities have been seized in the last six years. Locations include Heathrow Airport and Geneva - but these only account for some 1000 pieces. Where were the other 2000 seized? (See also the relief from Bonhams; two Middle Kingdom ducks at Christie's (New York) and with Rupert Wace.) Were these 3000 antiquities destined for the antiquities market? Had they been purchased? Who was handling them?

These figures suggest that looting in Egypt is far from over. This area will be looked after by a new department at the SCA, the National Committee to Return Smuggled Antiquities (NCRSA).

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Egypt