Egypt seeking return of ancient coffin from U.S.

Egyptian and U.S. authorities are in talks to repatriate a 3,000-year-old pharaonic-era wood coffin that was smuggled out of Egypt 125 years ago, recently bought by an American from a Spanish dealer and shipped to the United States.

The ornately decorated coffin belonged to Pharaoh Ames of the 21st Dynasty, which ruled from 1081 B.C. to 931 B.C., said Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.

U.S. customs officials in Miami, Florida impounded it on February 26 for lack of paperwork establishing legal ownership. The American buyer subsequently relinquished his claim to the coffin.

Reuters

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Tags: antiquities theft, coffin, Egypt seeking return of ancient coffin from U.S

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