Egypt's looted ancient 'Green Sarcophagus' lid returned by US

Recovery of artefact dating back 2,700 years is part of efforts to protect country's heritage, says Egyptian minister

Secretary-General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri takes a close look at the ancient Egyptian artefact 'Green Sarcophagus' after it was returned from the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, in Cairo, Egypt, 02 January 2023. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Charge of Affairs Daniel Rubinstein attended a ceremony on 02 January to celebrate the handing over of the coffin lid known as the 'Green Sarcophagus' that was smuggled illegally outside of Egypt and recovered from the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. The artefact is three meters long carved in wood with columns of hieroglyphic texts dating back to the Late Period (664-332 BC). EPA / KHALED ELFIQI

From left: Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other officials attend the handover ceremony for an ancient wooden sarcophagus that has been returned to Egypt. AFP

The sarcophagus was looted and smuggled out of Egypt years ago. AFP

It was previously displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. AFP

Mr Shoukry, second left, and Mr Issa, right, look on as Mr Waziri speaks during the handover ceremony, at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Cairo. AFP

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (L) and Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa (C-R) look on as the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri (C) gives a statement during a handover ceremony for an ancient Egyptian wooden sarcophagus that was looted and smuggled years prior and was formerly displayed at Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, at the foreign ministry headquarters in the capital Cairo. AFP

Secretary-General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri takes a close look at the ancient Egyptian artefact 'Green Sarcophagus' after it was returned from the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

The ancient Egyptian artefact 'Green Sarcophagus' is displayed after it was returned from the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, in Cairo, Egypt. EPA

An ancient wooden sarcophagus is displayed during a handover ceremony at the foreign ministry in Cairo, Egypt. AP

Egypt has recovered an ancient sarcophagus lid that was smuggled out of the country and ended up on display at a museum in the US.

The 2,700-year-old artefact — known as the “Green Sarcophagus” — has been returned to Egypt by the US, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.

The lid, which is about three metres long, was among 17 artefacts recently recovered from the US, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Ahmed Issa said. The complete sarcophagus weighs about 500kg.

It was looted from the Abusir necropolis, south of Cairo, then transported to the US in 2008.

It was acquired by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, in Texas, in 2013, according to state media.

Its recovery is part of efforts to protect Egypt's heritage, Mr Shoukry said.

Over the past decade, Egypt has recovered about 29,000 antiquities taken abroad illegally.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said only the lid of the half-tonne sarcophagus had been stolen.

It is one of the largest wooden sarcophagi from Ancient Egypt, he said, dating back to the Late Period, spanning the last of the Pharaonic rulers from 664BC to Alexander the Great’s campaign in 332BC.

The coffin may have belonged to a priest named Ankhenmaat, though some of the inscription has been erased, Mr Waziri said.

It was named the Green Sarcophagus because of the colour of the face on its brightly painted lid.

The handover came more than three months after the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office determined the sarcophagus was looted.

It was smuggled through Germany into the US in 2008, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

“This stunning coffin was trafficked by a well-organised network that has looted countless antiquities from the region,” Mr Bragg said.

“We are pleased that this object will be returned to Egypt, where it rightfully belongs.”