CAIRO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Egypt recovered two major ancient artifacts from Belgium that were illegally smuggled out of the country, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Tuesday.
The pieces were formally handed over following a sustained diplomatic and legal pursuit that spanned several years, according to a ministry statement.
The recovered treasures include a painted and gilded wooden coffin dating back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt (664-332 BC), notable for its intricate decorations that reflect the funerary rituals and advanced coffin-making techniques of that era.
In addition, a wooden beard from an ancient Egyptian statue, originating from the Middle Kingdom (2055-1650 BC), was also returned, said the statement.
The recovery dates back to 2016, when Belgian authorities seized four Egyptian artifacts that were displayed in a local gallery after investigations confirmed a lack of legal documentation proving ownership, it said.
Egypt had already succeeded in repatriating two smaller wooden statues from this group in 2022, it added.
Over the past few years, Egypt has recovered tens of thousands of smuggled antiquities from different countries.
