Mystery Surrounds Vanishing Artefact from Tomb of Khentika
Egyptian authorities have launched an urgent investigation after an ancient limestone slab vanished from the sealed tomb of Khentika in the historic Saqqara archaeological zone, near Cairo. The tomb, originally discovered in the 1950s, had reportedly not been opened since 2019 and was being used as a secure storage site for antiquities.
On Sunday, Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, confirmed that the case has been formally referred to the Public Prosecution. He stated that all legal measures are underway to uncover how the artefact went missing from a supposedly secure and sealed location.
The disappearance has raised serious concerns about security protocols at archaeological sites. Authorities are treating the case with urgency due to the tomb’s historical significance and the sealed nature of the site.
Egypt Faces Second Artefact Theft Case in Weeks
This is not the first time Egypt has faced controversy over missing antiquities. In September, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed that a gold bracelet belonging to King Amenemope—a ruler from the 21st dynasty (993–984 BC)—had vanished from a conservation lab at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Following an in-depth investigation, authorities confirmed that the bracelet was stolen by a restoration specialist, then passed through several hands before being melted down, according to Egypt’s Interior Ministry.
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is now working closely with other agencies to track down the missing limestone artefact and prevent similar incidents. Enhanced oversight and stricter control measures at key archaeological sites are expected to follow.
