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Ancient Egyptian Head Returns Home After Decade
8 Feb
Summary
- A 3,500-year-old stone head from Luxor has been returned to Egypt.
- The artifact was likely stolen during the Arab Spring in the early 2010s.
- The Netherlands returned the sculpture under the 1970 UNESCO Convention.
A significant 3,500-year-old stone head, originating from Luxor, Egypt, has been successfully returned to its country of origin. This ancient artifact, believed to have been looted during the turbulent Arab Spring in the early 2010s, was recently repatriated following a formal ceremony at the Egyptian embassy in The Hague. The Dutch Government Information and Heritage Inspectorate confirmed the return.
The sculpture, which portrays a high-ranking official from the era of Pharaoh Thutmose III, first came to authorities' attention in 2022. It was spotted at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair in the Netherlands, where the dealer proactively raised concerns about its provenance documents.
An investigation, involving Dutch police, the Heritage Inspectorate, and experts from the British Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, ensued. Spanish police also provided assistance in examining a previous seller. Investigators concluded the artifact was authentic and likely stolen from Luxor.
Egypt confirmed the object's illegal removal and requested its return, citing the 1970 UNESCO Convention. Both Egypt and the Netherlands are signatories to this convention, obligating them to prevent unlawful export and return stolen cultural items. Dutch officials expressed regret over the looting and affirmed the head's rightful place in Egypt.
