Egypt recovers four smuggled rare artifacts from the United States - EgyptToday

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/147569/Egypt-recovers-four-smuggled-rare-artifacts-from-the-United-States

Egypt recovers four smuggled rare artifacts from the United States

BY

Egypt Today staff

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 - 08:23 GMT

The four rare Egyptian artifacts that had been smuggled into the United States- press photo from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

CAIRO – 5 June 2026: The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in cooperation with the Egyptian Consulate in Houston, has successfully recovered four rare Egyptian artifacts that had been smuggled into the United States, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

 

The recovered pieces date back to different periods of ancient Egyptian civilization and represent another milestone in Egypt’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its cultural heritage.

 

The ministry stated that the recovery reflects the Egyptian state's commitment to protecting its cultural legacy and preserving its national identity. It also highlights the strong relationship between Egypt and the United States, as well as the close cooperation between the two countries in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property and promoting respect for humanity’s shared heritage.

 

Among the most significant artifacts recovered is a granite statue head depicting a royal figure wearing a traditional pharaonic headdress. The piece dates back to the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom.

 

The latest recovery builds on a framework of bilateral cooperation established through a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Egypt and the United States in Cairo on November 30, 2021. The agreement, signed by Jonathan R. Cohen and Mostafa Waziri, replaced the 2016 MOU and expanded protections for a wider range of Egyptian cultural objects. It also strengthened cooperation between the two countries to prevent the trafficking of archaeological artifacts and facilitate the identification, recovery, and return of stolen cultural property.

 

Egypt has achieved several notable successes in recovering antiquities from the United States in recent years. In November 2025, authorities recovered 36 artifacts from New York that had been illegally removed from Egypt. The collection included 11 artifacts confiscated by the New York Attorney General’s Office and transferred to the Egyptian Consulate in New York, 24 rare manuscripts containing Coptic and Syriac texts, and a painted limestone relief from the 18th Dynasty returned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

 

In April 2026, Egypt also succeeded in recovering 13 antiquities from the United States that had been smuggled out of the country illegally.

 

These recoveries underscore Egypt’s continued efforts, in partnership with international authorities and institutions, to safeguard its archaeological heritage and secure the return of cultural treasures to their country of origin.

 

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Rare wild boar burials and Greco-Roman cemetery uncovered at Egypt’s Tell Kom Aziza site | Archaeology News Online Magazine

https://archaeologymag.com/2026/06/wild-boar-burials-and-greco-roman-cemetery-tell-kom-aziza/

Rare wild boar burials and Greco-Roman cemetery uncovered at Egypt’s Tell Kom Aziza site

by Dario Radley

June 5, 2026

Excavations at Tell Kom Aziza in Beheira Governorate have uncovered part of a Greco-Roman cemetery along with evidence of settlement activity stretching back to the Old Kingdom, offering a long archaeological sequence that spans several major periods of Egyptian history.

Excavations at the necropolis. Photo courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The work was carried out by an Egyptian archaeological mission under the Supreme Council of Antiquities. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the cemetery was built above earlier occupation layers, and the stratigraphy indicates repeated use of the site from the Old Kingdom through the New Kingdom and Late Period into the Greco-Roman era.

The excavation revealed a wide range of burial forms. Some graves were simple pits cut into the soil, while others had mudbrick linings that created more structured burial spaces. Archaeologists also recovered burials placed in decorated plaster coffins and in barrel-shaped pottery coffins, a form commonly associated with the Ptolemaic period.

Excavations at the necropolis. Photo courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Preliminary study of the human remains points to considerable variation in funerary practice. Researchers documented both individual and collective burials. Bodies were oriented either north-south or east-west, and arm positions differed from one burial to another. Some individuals had hands crossed over the pelvis, others had hands near the neck, some were placed in the Osirian pose with arms crossed over the chest, and others had arms extended along the thighs. The team says this pattern reflects multiple traditions of body preparation and burial treatment rather than a single uniform rite.

Some of the artifacts uncovered during excavations at Tell Kom Aziza. Photo courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

A particularly unusual find was the complete burial of wild boars (Sus scrofa) within one of the archaeological layers. Boar burials are extremely rare in ancient Egyptian funerary contexts because pigs and boars carried negative associations in some Egyptian religious traditions, especially through their connection with the god Seth. Excavation leaders say the animals may relate more to economic or domestic activity at the site during a certain phase of occupation than to a formal funerary ritual, although further analysis is still needed.

Beyond the cemetery, the mission uncovered material from everyday life. Finds include ceramic and stone vessels, bread-making molds, stone tools, ovens, storage containers, and large quantities of fish, bird, and mammal remains. The faunal assemblage will help reconstruct diet, food processing, and local economic activity across different periods of occupation.

One of the wild boar burials uncovered at Tell Kom Aziza in Egypt. Photo courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

The site’s importance lies in the combination of funerary evidence and settlement evidence within a single stratified sequence. The Greco-Roman cemetery represents only the latest visible phase of a landscape that had already been occupied for centuries. Each layer preserves traces of changing patterns of habitation, production, burial, and interaction with the surrounding delta environment.

Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Supreme Council of Antiquities describe Tell Kom Aziza as one of the Nile Delta’s most promising multi-period archaeological sites. Future excavation seasons are expected to focus on clarifying the chronology of the cemetery, the relationship between different burial types, and the function of the boar burials within the broader history of the settlement.

More information: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

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Complete funerary cachette uncovered at Panehsy tomb in Heliopolis necropolis - Ancient Egypt - Antiquities - Ahram Online

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/569899.aspx

Complete funerary cachette uncovered at Panehsy tomb in Heliopolis necropolis

Nevine El-Aref , Sunday 31 May 2026

A significant archaeological breakthrough has been uncovered in the historic district of Matariya, Ain Shams, where excavations at the tomb of “Panehsy” have revealed the first nearly complete funerary furniture set ever discovered in the area, alongside a trove of rare artefacts that shed new light on burial practices across centuries.

The discovery, made by an Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), offers fresh insight into the ancient necropolis of Heliopolis, one of the most important religious centres of the ancient world.

The find underscores the growing success of Egyptian-led excavations in “re-reading” the historical and cultural legacy of Heliopolis as the newly uncovered objects provide a more detailed understanding of both daily life and funerary traditions spanning multiple historical periods.

Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the SCA, explained that excavations uncovered a mudbrick burial containing human skeletal remains, and continued careful excavation beneath it led to the discovery of a concealed archaeological cachette featuring a distinguished collection of cosmetic tools and symbolic objects associated with funerary practices.

Among the standout artefacts is a copper mirror, along with two alabaster kohl containers still preserving traces of cosmetic material. 

A third kohl container, crafted from rare black obsidian, adds particular significance due to the rarity of the material in similar archaeological contexts.

The excavation team also uncovered two light-blue faience vessels. One vessel contained six intricately inscribed scarabs, including two encased in yellow metal frames believed to be gold.

Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, stated that the cachette also included a collection of faience amulets in symbolic forms, including a duck-shaped amulet and another representing the Atef crown. The discovery further revealed four stones, two of which are believed to be carnelian, one pinkish-red and encased in a yellow metal frame likely made of gold, and another with a greenish-blue hue.

Archaeologists also recovered a notable collection of yellow-colored metal earrings, consisting of five pairs of varying sizes, believed to be made of gold, with diameters ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 centimetres.

Abdel Badie added that the discovery builds on earlier excavation results at the site this season, which revealed mudbrick and limestone funerary structures, as well as two coffins found in a fragmented, stacked condition. One coffin was made of pottery, while the other, constructed from plaster with a gilded appearance and decorated with red inscriptions, contained gilded remains believed to belong to a military figure, along with a coin possibly dating to the Roman period.

“Additional limestone blocks bearing hieroglyphic inscriptions were also uncovered, further enhancing the archaeological significance of the site and supporting efforts to better understand its chronological and cultural development,” he said.

The necropolis where the tomb of “Panehsy” is located represents a vital archaeological record documenting the different periods the area has witnessed, having served as a burial ground for prominent individuals from the Late Period through the Roman era and into the Christian period.

The site forms part of the greater necropolis of ancient Heliopolis, historically known as “Oun,” the principal religious center for the worship of the sun god Re, giving the discovery particular importance in understanding the evolution of funerary practices, religious beliefs, and social structures in one of ancient Egypt’s most sacred cities.

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Rare find in Egypt reveals cartouche of Senusret III, marble head of Aphrodite, and unpublished structures of a Roman basilica in the ancient city of Ihnasya, in Beni Suef - CPG Click Oil and Gas

https://en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/rare-find-in-egypt-reveals-cartouche-of-senusret-iii-marble-head-of-aphrodite-and-unpublished-structures-of-a-roman-basilica-in-the-ancient-rpc95/

Rare find in Egypt reveals cartouche of Senusret III, marble head of Aphrodite, and unpublished structures of a Roman basilica in the ancient city of Ihnasya, in Beni Suef

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 02/06/2026 at 16:41

Excavations in Ihnasya, Egypt, revealed inscription linked to Senusret III, marble head of Aphrodite, structures of a Roman basilica, and remains showing the religious, political, and economic importance of the ancient city

Excavations in Ihnasya, an ancient city in the province of Beni Suef, Egypt, revealed a rare find of artifacts from different periods, including an inscription linked to Pharaoh Senusret III, a marble head of Aphrodite, and new parts of a Roman basilica, expanding the understanding of the religious, political, and economic importance of the site.

General photograph of the excavation site / Credit: Disclosure/Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt

Rare find of Senusret III inscription reinforces religious significance of Ihnasya

One of the main finds is a reused stone block with the cartouche of Senusret III, ruler of the Twelfth Dynasty. The inscription preserves both the throne name and the birth name of the pharaoh.

The discovery gains relevance because Senusret III was already associated with other monuments found in the region.

The new record strengthens the connection between the pharaoh and Ihnasya, a city that played an important role in different phases of Egyptian history.

Archaeologists also identified another cartouche related to Osiris-Nefertem, a deity worshiped in the area.

The presence of this reference reinforces the religious character of the city and shows how its places of worship spanned different historical periods.

Known by the Greeks as Heracleopolis Magna, Ihnasya maintained regional importance even after ceasing to be a capital.

The set of finds helps explain why the site remains relevant for the study of urban, religious, and political organization of ancient Egypt.

Roman basilica used parts of dismantled Doric temple

The excavations also revealed previously unknown sections of a Roman basilica. During the work, archaeologists identified that elements of an ancient Doric temple were dismantled and reused in the construction of the religious building.

Preliminary analyses indicate that, in the 6th century AD, the builders incorporated parts of this earlier structure into the foundations and floor that supported the basilica’s columns.

The reuse of materials shows an important transformation in the use of public and religious spaces in Ihnasya.

Large stone blocks were arranged to form a base capable of supporting monumental columns.

Some of these columns are estimated to weigh around 45 tons. Three of them remain preserved in their original positions, which helps researchers study the techniques used in the construction and adaptation of the building.

Head of Aphrodite and inscription of Senusret III / Credit: Disclosure/Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt

Head of Aphrodite is considered rare at the archaeological site

Another highlight of the excavations in Ihnasya is a marble head representing Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The piece measures approximately 24 by 25 centimeters.

The sculpture preserves refined details, such as facial features and sculpted curls. According to archaeologists, the piece follows common characteristics of classical representations of deities and prominent figures of the Greco-Roman world.

The material was classified as a rare example among the finds already identified at the archaeological site. Its presence broadens the picture of cultural influences recorded in Ihnasya over time.

The discovery also reinforces the presence of Greco-Roman elements in the city, which underwent successive religious, architectural, and institutional transformations.

Coin molds indicate economic activity in the Roman period

In addition to the inscription of Senusret III, the head of Aphrodite, and the structures of the Roman basilica, archaeologists located fragments of sculpted reliefs, decorated architectural elements, and clay molds used in coin production.

These materials indicate that Ihnasya remained active and economically relevant long after the end of the pharaonic era.

The presence of the molds points to activities related to monetary production during the Roman period.

The set of evidence helps reconstruct the city’s trajectory over more than a millennium. The discoveries show changes in religious practices, architecture, and public institutions, reflecting the influence of different cultures.

The recovered materials are still under analysis and will undergo new dating studies. Researchers hope to more precisely understand how Ihnasya transformed and how its inhabitants responded to the political, religious, and cultural changes throughout Egypt’s long history.

This article was prepared based on information from Archaeology News and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.

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https://english.aawsat.com/culture/5278139-egypt-discovers-rare-reservoirs-buildings-ancient-aydhab-port-halaib

Egypt Discovers Rare Reservoirs, Buildings at Ancient Aydhab Port in Halaib

A collection of archaeological finds and fragments of Chinese porcelain (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

• Cairo: Fathiya al-Dakhakhni

15:38-28 May 2026 AD ـ 11 Thul-Hijjah 1447 AH

TT

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Thursday the discovery of massive water reservoirs and cisterns, along with rare buildings and service facilities, at the archaeological site of the ancient port of Aydhab on the Red Sea coast in the Halaib region in southern Egypt near the Sudanese border. The port once served as a major transit point for pilgrims.

The discovery was made during excavation work carried out by an Egyptian archaeological mission affiliated with the Supreme Council of Antiquities at the site of the ancient port of Aydhab, which the ministry described as “one of the most prominent and important Egyptian ports during the Islamic period.”

Some of the artifacts discovered at the site (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discovery highlights an important aspect of the service infrastructure on which the historic port of Aydhab depended. He noted that the water cisterns played a vital role in supporting maritime and trade activity, as well as meeting the needs of pilgrims arriving at the port on their way to the holy lands, according to the ministry’s statement.

Excavation work uncovered a massive main reservoir measuring approximately 15.10 meters in length, 3.15 meters in width and nearly three meters in height. It was constructed using sandstone and local coral stones, then coated with a layer of white lime mortar to insulate the water and prevent leakage. Several additional cisterns were also uncovered in the southern part of the site.

Diaa Zahran, head of the Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Antiquities Sector, said archaeological surveys in the surrounding area also revealed the remains of residential building foundations, watchtowers and service facilities, indicating the existence of an integrated system for managing the port and meeting the needs of pilgrims and merchants who passed through it over many centuries.

The mission also uncovered a collection of artifacts, including pottery fragments dating back to the Fatimid era, some glazed in green, in addition to shards of imported Chinese porcelain. The finds reflect the flourishing commercial activity at the port and the breadth of its maritime trade network with many regions, particularly India, Yemen and East Africa.

The site includes service buildings used by pilgrims (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)

Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi described the discovery as “a contribution to highlighting the development witnessed by ancient Egyptian ports and the advanced infrastructure they possessed to serve trade routes and pilgrims.” In a press statement, he said the discovery confirms Egypt’s strategic status as a major civilizational and commercial center throughout history.

Fathi stressed the ministry’s commitment to excavation work and archaeological studies in border and remote areas because of their significant historical and cultural importance.

Historian Bassam el-Shammaa described the discovery as “one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 21st century,” telling Asharq Al-Awsat that “the importance of archaeological discoveries lies not in their size, but in the extent to which they deepen understanding of history across different periods.”

He said the discovery proves the existence of social and commercial ties linking Asia and Egypt that extended to China and other civilizations. He added that it also carries humanitarian and security dimensions through the discovery of service buildings and water cisterns dedicated to serving pilgrims during that period, as well as watchtowers used to secure the borders.

El-Shammaa proposed organizing tourism trips to Egypt’s ancient ports and making use of archaeological discoveries at several historic ports along the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts.

The port of Aydhab was among the most prominent Red Sea ports during the Middle Ages, serving as a key station for pilgrims arriving from Egypt and the Maghreb on their way to the holy sites, in addition to playing a central role in maritime trade.

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https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/korean-egyptian-archaeologists-ancient-temple-075409447.html



Korean-Egyptian archaeological mission find blocks belonging to the Ramesseum

Korean, Egyptian archaeologists find ancient temple gate blocks during restoration work in Luxor

Miriam Sela-Eitam

Updated Sat, May 23, 2026 at 12:54 AM PDT

• Korean-Egyptian archaeological mission discovers blocks belonging to the Ramesseum, the second largest temple in Egypt, hidden under the sands.

The Ramesseum, located in a necropolis near Luxor, serves as a religious and political record of Pharoah Ramesses II’s reign. It is the second largest temple in Egypt.

Korean and Egyptian archaeologists working to restore the Ramesseum, one of the most significant funerary temples of ancient Egypt, have discovered several blocks belonging to one of the temple’s gates hidden under the sands.

The blocks and the surrounding area have been documented using 3D laster scanning.

The discovery, announced by the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry earlier this week, comes as part of f a cooperation agreement signed in 2022 between Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage in South Korea.

Per the agreement, the restoration effort is set to be carried out in two phases over the course of a decade.

According to the ministry’s statement, the first phase of the restoration project, focused on restoring the temple’s First Pylon (gate), began in 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in 2027.

An aerial picture taken from a hot air balloon shows the Ramesseum temple in the southern Egyptian town of Luxor, September 10, 2017; illustrative. (credit: Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images)

The pylon is approximately 32 meters long.

Egypt’s Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy applauded the mission’s work during a recent visit to Luxor, affirming that it is “among the most prominent ongoing restoration projects” and and that it “represents a model of fruitful international cooperation in the field of heritage preservation.”

What is the Ramesseum?

The Ramesseum, located in the in a necropolisnear Luxor, serves as a religious and political record of Pharoah Ramesses II’s reign. It is the second largest temple in Egypt.

Pharaoh Ramesses II, who is also known as “Ramesses the Great”, is believed by many to have been the pharaoh in the biblical story of the Exodus.

Several of Ramesses’ victories are depicted on the temple’s walls, including the famed Battle of Kadesh that took place between the Egyptian and Hittite empires, as well as scenes of religious practices and funerary rituals.

In late April, the ministry revealed that a statue missing both its legs and base that was found at the Tel Faraon archaeological site near El Husseiniya along the Nile Delta, is believed to depict Ramesses II.

During Fathy's visit to area, he stopped at two restored ancient tombs that date back to the New Kingdom and contain scenes of daily life and funerary rituals.

The tombs that were opened are those of Rabuya and his son Samut from the 18th Dynasty, the first of the New Kingdom dynasties. Rabuya and Samut served as door keepers of the deity Amun.

"Today we are inaugurating two very important tombs that were discovered by chance in 2015," said Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.

The tombs contain scenes of activities including agriculture, harvest, crafts, bread, pottery and wine production.

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ARCE-NC Lecture - Accessing Abydos: Excavating Bricks and Archives for Answers About Early Kingship

 

The American Research Center in Egypt, Northern California chapter, invites you to attend a lecture by Dr. Laurel Bestock, Brown University : Accessing Abydos Excavating Bricks and Archives for Answers About Early Kingship Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time Redwood City Woman’s Club 149 Clinton Street, Redwood City (New venue!) This is an in-person lecture, not virtual. The lecture will not be recorded. Shunet el-Zebib | Khasekhemwy Monument https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Shunet_el-Zebib#/media/File:Khasekhemwy_Monument_(II).jpg (isawnyu, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons) About the Lecture: The site of Abydos is critical for understanding the rise of Egyptian kingship and the foundations of the pharaonic state. The earliest kings built their tombs far in the desert at Abydos, ringing them with sacrificial burials. But the largest monuments built by these kings were not tombs but temples, also at Abydos, and also often provided with sacrificial burials. Built much closer to the floodplain and settlement site, these structures, known to archaeologists as funerary enclosures, remain somewhat enigmatic. One such funerary enclosure still stands today, its mud-brick walls looming over the landscape some 4700 years after it was built. The standing monument is the last of the line; its predecessors are present only as foundations, no longer visible except when archaeologists clear the sand from them. Why are all earlier funerary enclosures mere stubs? Published explanations have focused on deliberate destruction, arguing that each building “died” as its king did, leaving only one standing at a time. However, recent work in the unpublished archives of the past 30 years of excavations held in New York suggest that neither the evidence nor its interpretation is nearly so straightforward. In this talk, we will look first at the history of archaeology at the Abydos funerary enclosures and what knowledge has been produced there. We will then dive into the excavation of an archive, the work being done to bring unpublished material to light, and how this is reshaping thoughts about early kingship. In doing so, we will confront important matters not only about the ancient past, but about how archaeologists work, and how exciting it can be to confront evidence that makes us change our minds.   About the Speaker: Dr. Laurel Bestock is the Joukowsky Family Associate Professor of Egyptology and Archaeology at Brown University, as well as a visiting professor and director of excavations at Abydos at the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. A field archaeologist with longstanding interests in kingship and monumentality, she has directed projects at Abydos and at the Middle Kingdom fortress of Uronarti in the Sudan. She is part of a team that is developing Kiosk, archaeological recording software that is used by excavations around the world. Though a native Californian, Laurel left to pursue degrees in the cold way back in 1995 and has missed the West Coast ever since. In her spare time she spins yarn, and is preparing to bring her obsessions together in the classroom next semester by teaching a course on the Archaeology of Textiles. --------------------- Redwood City Woman’s Club location and parking: This month, we’re meeting on the Peninsula, in the Redwood City Woman’s Club, two blocks off Broadway in central Redwood City. The 1911 bungalow, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, dates from the year women won the vote in California and worked in groups like this one to secure their roles in public life. The club is fully ramped and wheelchair-friendly. For users of public transit, it’s walking distance from Caltrain. Best freeway access is from Highway 101’s Whipple Avenue exit. Parking is along the street, though given advance notice, we can set up a couple of disabled spots on the north side of the building. Useful links: Redwood City Woman's Club Google map of vicinity About Northern California ARCE: For more information, please visit https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://www.facebook.com/NorthernCaliforniaARCE, https://arce-nc.org, https://bsky.app/profile/khentiamentiu.bsky.social, and https://khentiamentiu.org. To join the chapter or renew your membership, please go to https://arce.org/membership/ and select "Berkeley, CA" as your chapter when you sign up.