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Belgium to return 35,000-year-old Egyptian skeleton

Nina Awad

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Egypt is about to get back a 35,000-year-old skeleton that has been held in Belgium since 1980. The skeleton, which is now called the “Nazlet Khater Man,” was initially excavated in 1980 by a team of archaeologists from the Leuven University in Belgium. This archaeological mission was proven to be particularly massive as the team searched and excavated items from eight different sites located in the desert north of Sohag in Upper Egypt.

“The Ministry of Antiquities succeeded in repatriating a human skeleton from Belgium through diplomatic efforts,” Antiquities Minister Mamdouh El Damanty said. “All necessary procedures are currently taking place in order to receive the skeleton within the next few days.”

The skeleton’s final resting place will be in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Al-Fustat area in Cairo.

In an official statement released by the ministry’s Press Office, Damaty explained the significance of this skeleton as it’s one of the oldest remains ever found in Egypt, helping to “reflect on the history of development of the human species that once lived in country.”

In the same statement, Damaty took the time to update the public on the efforts to restore the beams from King Khufu’s second solar boat, saying that the collaboration with WASEDA University and the Japanese team had successfully completed “all the required archaeological documentation” using 3D imaging techniques.