Archeology Headlines: Egypt

In Luxor, Egypt, two statues made out of red granite have been uncovered close to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III, who ruled until 1372 BC. Throughout Egypt, a handful of recent headlines have emerged in the news, including the advancements in technology that make it possible to put the pieces of the past back together without damaging ancient artifacts.

The statue discoveries are added to the giant carving of a pharaoh’s head that was found last month. Egyptian archeologists and representatives from the antiquities council have revealed that the two statues are in the shape of a baboon and of the ancient deity of wisdom, Thoth.

The temple is dated back to the 18th Dynasty, which represented ancient Egypt days until 1292 BC. It is a significant find because it is the first time that a statue has been uncovered that depicts Thoth as a monkey. Another statue depicting the king and the sky god Horus (seen as a falcon) was discovered. However, only the upper half of the statue was located.

The site also brought to light a granite statue showing the pharaoh Ramses III, who ruled around 3,000 years ago.

Facial Reconstruction for Egyptian Mummy

Scientists from Barcelona’s Quiron Hospital and the Egyptian Museum have announced that reconstructing the face of an Egyptian mummy who once lived 2,000 years ago did not have to undergo the opening of its shroud. Thanks to advanced medical technology. A report published in the Barcelona Reporter highlighted a presentation that was given by president of the Egyptian Museum in Barcelona among other speakers. During the presentation, they showed some of the advancements in technology that made it possible to reconstruct the face of an ancient mummy that hasn’t been utilized in archeology until now.

United States Returns Ancient Sarcophagus to Egypt

In 2008, a customs agent at the Miami, Florida airport became suspicious when he discovered that a shipping crate contained an ancient Egyptian coffin. With a great deal of investigation and mystery surrounding the sarcophagus, two years later , the ancient artifact is finding its way back home , being returned to Egypt on Wednesday.

When it arrived at the National Geographic Society, the painted wooden coffin was quite a sight to see because it was so large. It was decorated in the shape of an Egyptian man in a state of repose, but was empty. Dating back 3,000 years, the artifact had been smuggled into the United States without the knowledge of the chief of antiquities in Egypt. The Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, John Morton, is in charge of seizing and exploring the details of illegally imported art and antiquities. Morton says the case has many unique details, including a sale at a Spanish art gallery.

During a routine check of the contents within the create, such as beetles that can hitch a ride by boring holes into the wood, a specialist noticed that the artifact did not possess the proper documents. The question that arose is why a sarcophagus was in Miami and it lacked any documents. After Immigration and Customs Enforcement was informed, an international investigation was launched. A variety of people played a role in the return of the artifact, including Egyptologists, Interpol, and government officials associated with Egypt and the United States.