The weeks before Hosni Mubarak's ouster last winter turned into a tumultuous time during which precious artifacts were lifted from the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (aka the Cairo Museum). For an interview that appears in the August issue of Scientific American, former Newsweek foreign editor Jeffrey Bartholet talked to Zahi Hawass, the minister of state for antiquities, about efforts to recover the artifacts. An excerpt from that interview follows, with supplementary questions on the missing artifacts and on the more general problem of antiquity theft in Egypt. 

What more can be done internationally to recover items looted since January?

2 Comments

1. 1. jimaginator 12:27 PM 7/29/11

   It's time the formerly(?) imperialistic countries owned up to their past misdeeds and do the right thing. Might no longer should make right when it comes to antiquities. As long as the original countries can show that they can maintain proper security and care for the artifacts, repatriation is long overdue.

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2. 2. EyesWideOpen 04:57 PM 7/29/11

   Zahi Hawass is the reason Egypt wasn't sent straight back to the middle ages. Egyptians owe that man a debt of gratitude for defending Egypt's rich cultural heritage and priceless historical record that dates back to the dawn of human history.

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