Egyptian archaeologist and former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass has renewed his campaign to repatriate the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti from Berlin’s Neues Museum, with the artifact having been in the city since 1913. Hawass and other proponents argue that the bust of Nefertiti, which is over 3,000 years old, was “brazenly stolen” from Egypt by German archaeologists who concealed its true significance. However, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees Berlin’s museum collections, contends that the bust was legally acquired under a historical artifact-sharing agreement. Critics like archaeologist Monica Hanna argue that the artifact represents colonialist practices in archaeology, questioning whether Egypt received fair cultural exchanges in return. Despite these demands, experts believe new evidence is essential for a successful restitution claim. Hawass’ petition also demands the return of the Rosetta Stone and Dendera Zodiac, currently held in London and Paris.
SOURCE: DW
