Three items recovered after recent Egyptian museum break-in

Three items recovered after recent Egyptian museum break-in

2011-02-15 12:03:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO, EGYPT (BNO NEWS) -- Three of the eight stolen items following the recent break-in into the Egyptian museum, which resulted in several lost artifacts, local media reported Monday.

Among the recovered objects were the heart-shaped amulet Tutankhamun's grandfather Yoya; one of his missing wooden ushabti figurines; as well as a part of the broken, anthropoid wooden sarcophagus on display in the New Kingdom hall, Egypt's Ahram reported.

The artifacts had gone missing after the January 28 break-in that led investigations to believe that over 70 objects had been missing.

However, Minister of State for Antiquities Zahi Hawass confirmed that after a detailed inventory at the Darshour storage gallery, which is known as De-Morgans, only 8 objects were unaccounted for. With the recovered objects, only 5 continue to be missing.

The objects were found on the ground at the eastern side of the museum, beside the museum's gift shop.

Furthermore, regarding international news reports saying that Tutankhamun's gold mask was one of the missing objects, Hawass said they were false reports and invited journalists around the world to photograph the item on Wednesday.

After the break-in, museum officials said reinforced security measures would be taken, as a large iron gate is to be constructed around the gallery.

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