What happened to Sudan's National Museum during the war?

Sudan's National Museum in Khartoum was heavily looted and destroyed in the early months of the war, which began in April 2023.

How is Sudan preserving its cultural artifacts digitally?

A virtual museum has been created to digitally recreate the museum's lost collection, featuring over 1,000 artifacts from the ancient Kingdom of Kush.

Can the virtual museum help recover stolen Sudanese artifacts?

Yes, the reconstructed database of artifacts is expected to bolster Interpol's efforts to track and thwart the trafficking of Sudan's stolen heritage.

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Sudan Museum Looted: Virtual Reconstruction Offers Hope

5 Jan

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Summary

Sudan's national museum suffered extensive looting and destruction in early 2023.
A virtual museum recreates over 1,000 artifacts from the ancient Kingdom of Kush.
The digital project aims to preserve heritage and aid Interpol in combating trafficking.

Sudan Museum Looted: Virtual Reconstruction Offers Hope

The National Museum in Khartoum, a cornerstone of Sudanese cultural preservation, faced devastating plundering at the outset of the war in April 2023. Only the heaviest items, like the statue of Pharaoh Taharqa, remain on-site as looters made off with an estimated 100,000 artifacts.

In response to this astronomical damage, a comprehensive virtual museum has been created, offering a digital sanctuary for Sudan's lost heritage. Developed by the French Archaeological Unit for Sudanese Antiquities with support from international institutions, it meticulously reconstructs the museum's atmosphere and displays over 1,000 artifacts.

The virtual museum, online since January 1, 2026, serves not only as a preservation tool but also aids Interpol in combating the trafficking of stolen cultural property. The project is ongoing, with the famed "Gold Room" expected to be recreated by the end of 2026.