The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities has recovered over 80 of its ancient golden ornaments and artefacts from the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Uruguay in the month of December, 2022.
The Secretary-General of the Council, Dr. Mustafa Waziri, made this confirmation on Saturday at the end of year meeting of the Council’s Board of Directors at the ministry’s headquarters in Zamalek, on the latest developments in the sector in the outgoing year.
Among the developments was the announcement of a number of archaeological discoveries in the governorates of Minya and Damietta, Fayoum and Luxor.
“The efforts made by the General Department of Recovered Antiquities, resulted in the recovery of 80 artifacts from France, England, the United States of America, and Uruguay.
“This is in addition to what the Central Administration of Ports and Archaeological Units at Egyptian Ports has done in seizing 67 artifacts before they were smuggled out of the country,” he said at the briefing.
Waziri also explained that the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish antiquities sector, had carried out a number of works in process, including the restoration work at the Musa bin Maimon Temple in the Jewish Quarter;
“The installation of the central parts of the Najafah in the Muhammad Ali Mosque in the Citadel and the restoration work at the Al-Hakim Bi-Amr Allah Al-Fatimi Mosque on Al-Moez Street.
“Others include the restoration works of the seven domes in the Great Qarafa in Fustat, the architectural and meticulous restoration works in the tomb of Suleiman Pasha al-Fransawi in the ancient region of Egypt;
“The resumption of work in the Sabil of Ahmed Effendi Selim, the dome of the Abbasid caliphs in the Qarafa of Sayyida Nafisa, the corner of Edikun al-Bunduqdari in Helmiya, and the sabil of Youssef Bey in Sayyidah Zeinab,” he added.