Egyptian authorities are investigating the disappearance of a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet linked to a pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty. The artifact vanished from the restoration laboratory of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The bracelet, decorated with a lapis lazuli bead, was last registered in the museum’s internal documentation before it went missing. Officials have referred the case to law enforcement and the public prosecution office. While the exact date of its disappearance remains unclear, the investigation is ongoing.
Ancient king’s tomb offers historical clues
The artifact is believed to have belonged to King Amenemope, a relatively obscure pharaoh who ruled during Egypt’s Third Intermediate Period, between approximately 1076 and 723 B.C.
According to the museum’s website, Amenemope was initially buried in a small, single-chamber tomb—designated NRT IV—at the royal necropolis of Tanis in the eastern Nile Delta. His remains were later reinterred next to Psusennes I, a more prominent ruler of the same era. The tomb was rediscovered in 1940.
Border alerts issued to prevent smuggling
In an effort to prevent potential smuggling, authorities distributed an image of the missing bracelet to all airports, seaports, and land border crossings in Egypt. The ministry called the action a precautionary step.
Officials also clarified that images of a similar bracelet circulating on social media show a different artifact that remains safely on display.
Archaeologist points to black market demand
Christos Tsirogiannis, a forensic archaeologist at the University of Cambridge specializing in antiquities trafficking, said the incident underscores the risks posed by the global demand for ancient artifacts.
He noted several possible outcomes. The bracelet could have been stolen and smuggled abroad, eventually resurfacing on an online platform, private dealer, or auction house, possibly with falsified provenance documents.
Alternatively, the piece may have been melted down for its gold, making it untraceable but less valuable in raw form. Another scenario, he said, is that it has entered a private collection and will not be seen again publicly.
Hope remains for the artifact’s recovery
Still, recovery remains possible. Tsirogiannis pointed to previous cases—especially during the Arab Spring—when stolen objects from Egyptian museums were later found in gardens or returned anonymously.
Ministry orders full artifact review
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has ordered a complete inventory of all artifacts currently stored in the museum’s restoration lab. A specialist committee will oversee the review to ensure that no other items are missing.
Egypt continues its fight against antiquities trafficking
The illegal trade in Egypt’s cultural heritage remains a serious issue. In a separate case last year, two men were arrested after attempting to smuggle hundreds of ancient artifacts retrieved from the seabed in Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria. The suspects later confessed to plans of trafficking the stolen items.
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