The U.S. is returning a 3,000-year-old sarcophagus back to Egypt. The coffin was confiscated at Miami’s airport after the importer could not present proper documentation and prove ownership.

 

The wooden sarcophagus was shipped from Spain in October 2008. After a two-year investigation, U.S. authorities determined the sarcophagus had left Egypt some time after 1970 and was later exhibited in Madrid three years ago. 

 

It was on display at the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C., where U.S. custom officials handed over the prized sarcophagus to Dr. Hawass, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities.

 

[Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities]:

"This is always a good moment in my life, actually as an archeologist, to see the return of a piece back to Egypt. But this piece especially, it’s a beautiful coffin, it's one of the best coffins I have ever seen.” 

 

Dr. Hawass was very thankful to the United States for helping to repatriate many stolen artifacts back to Egypt. In the eight years since he's taken office, over 30,000 antiques have been returned to Egypt. 

 

[Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities]:

"We have the best cooperation happening between Egypt and the United States in returning stolen artifacts . They returned to us hundreds of pieces until now with FBI, Homeland Security, U.S. customs. We are in the future, this coming two months, big things are coming back again to Egypt."

 

The sarcophagus will be on display in early April in Egypt at a special exhibition called “The Recovered Artifacts”.