Amid extensive efforts to retrieve smuggled Egyptian artifacts from all over the world, Assistant Foreign Minister for Cultural Relations Olfat Farah announced late last week the retrieval of 370 ancient artifacts from the United States and France.
Among the 135 artifacts retrieved from the United States, which date back to the Late Period of the ancient Egyptian civilization (664-111 BC), are wooden coffins, 99 coins, statues, models of boats, 12 ushabti statuettes, and more.
In addition, US Customs officials reported the return of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus that dates back to the Greco-Roman era which was found in a garage in Brooklyn in 2009.
“We coordinate with international organizations concerned with the preservation of cultural heritages to combat the looting and destruction of historical artifacts in the world,” Farah said. “We also work on raising the awareness of the people to preserve their cultural heritage.”
Shortly afterwards, 235 historical artifacts were reported seized at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport by French customs authorities, who said the finds would be returned to Egypt.
Earlier in January, 274 illegally smuggled artifacts were returned to Egypt from France and Spain.
In the chaos of the revolution, looting of cultural artifacts, already a problem, increased significantly.
The efforts of the Egyptian government are in parallel to the US Customs' 5-year-long operation, "Curse of the Mummy," which has reaped some 7,000 historical artifacts from all over the world.