Lebanon returns 37 smuggled Egyptian antiquities

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Lebanon has returned 37 ancient Egyptian artefacts seized at Beirut port in 2020, restoring the archaeological items to Egypt after an investigation established their origin and ownership.

The artefacts were handed over during a ceremony at the National Museum of Beirut attended by Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salameh and Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon Alaa Moussa.

The objects had been confiscated after arriving in Lebanon from another Arab port. Lebanese authorities subsequently investigated their provenance and determined that they were Egyptian antiquities dating from the pharaonic era.

Five of the returned objects were displayed during the ceremony, including masks made from materials such as fabric, wood and clay. The items had been kept together in a single container when they were seized.

Laura Salloum, an official at Lebanon’s Directorate of Antiquities, talking to Al Jazeera said the collection had been purchased by a Lebanese citizen without documentation establishing the legal source of the objects or confirming that they had been legitimately acquired from Egypt.  

Salameh said the investigation into the objects’ identity and ownership established that they belonged to Egypt. The return was presented as part of efforts by Lebanese and Egyptian authorities to protect archaeological heritage and prevent the illicit movement of antiquities.

Moussa said cooperation between countries was important for safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring that archaeological objects were returned to their countries of origin when their provenance was established.

The handover also highlights Egypt’s continuing efforts to recover antiquities that have left the country through illicit channels. Egyptian officials say Cairo has recovered nearly 30,000 archaeological objects over the past decade. 

The latest repatriation underscores continuing international efforts to trace, recover and return cultural objects removed from their countries of origin through unauthorized trade.