Bellingcat Stage Talk 1

25 January 2011 – 8 June 2014

During the period in Egypt referred to as “the Arab Spring” policing of archaeological sites becomes more difficult. During this period all archaeological work was put on hold in the town of Akhmim near Sohag governorate as well as Abusir El Malek where its Late Period–Ptolemaic Period cemetery, is neglected.  As a result, there is a tremendous surge in looting throughout these vulnerable territories in Egypt.

A grouping of multiple mummy coffins and cartonnage posted to Youtube in mid 2021.

 

Note: A mummy coffin is a wooden box that holds a mummy, while a sarcophagus is a stone coffin that holds a mummy.  Note the similarity to this seized Egyptian, Ptolemaic Period, Polychrome Gilt face (not a mask) sawed off of a coffin, circa 1st Century BCE.