The
American University in Cairo transferred the 5,000 items to the Ministry of
Antiquities, in line with Egyptian law. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
The
American University in Cairo (AUC) has handed 5,000 historical artifacts over
to the Ministry of Antiquities, parting with a collection it has held since the
1960s. The
collection consists of a number of clay vessels of different shapes and sizes,
ushabti figurines, tombstones and wooden funerary masks from the Graeco-Roman
era, as well as lamps from the Islamic period.
Mahmoud
Afifi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Department, told Ahram Online that the
artifacts were unearthed by an AUC excavation team led by late Professor George
Scanlon in 1964 at Establ Antar archaeological site in Fustat, Cairo. According
to the Egyptian antiquities law during that time, said Afifi, any artifacts
unearthed at archaeological sites could be divided with foreign missions.
Accordingly, the AUC succeeded in keeping half of the excavated items.
Then
in 1983, with the passing of the Egypt Antiquities Law (No. 117), the objects
were registered as the property of the Egyptian state, but in the possession of
the AUC. Mahmoud
Khalil, Director General of the Antiquities Possession Department, said the AUC
recently sent an official letter to the ministry asking for the artifacts to be
returned to the state.
Khalil
went on to say that the ministry immediately assigned an archaeological
committee to inspect the collection, pack the items and transport them to the
National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat. The
ministery has stated that anyone in possession of Egyptian antiquities should
follow the lead of the AUC in handing them over, "since they are part of
Egypt's heritage, to be enjoyed by all humanity."
