Khaberni - Egypt has recently witnessed repeated incidents of disappearance and theft of rare artifacts from sites and museums under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, prompting the political leadership to issue urgent directives to review the security and inventory system within archaeological institutions.
The official move came after the ministry announced the disappearance of a limestone artifact from the "Khenti-Ka" tomb in the Saqqara area, an incident followed by another that involved the loss of an ancient gold bracelet from inside the restoration lab of the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo.
These events have raised questions about the efficiency of security and monitoring systems in sites that are supposed to be secured at the highest level.
Presidential mandates and parliamentary action
The Presidency institution directly tasked the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities with establishing a huge central storehouse secured with the latest electronic protection technologies, to ensure the prevention of such incidents, while the Public Prosecution has started an extensive investigation into the latest incident.
In contrast, members of the parliament and archaeology experts called for a comprehensive review of the working mechanisms within the ministry and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressing that the repetition of these incidents indicates a structural malfunction that urgently requires administrative and security reform to protect the Egyptian historical heritage from loss or smuggling.
Supervision gaps and weaknesses in internal inspection
Dr. Ahmed Amer, an archaeology expert specializing in Egyptology told "24", that the release of any archaeological piece from the stores or labs is under specific responsibility, where officially, the archaeological inventory is handed over to a specific individual by a delivery and receipt report, making this person the first responsible for any loss or disappearance.
He pointed out that access to the stores is limited to those holding the inventory only, therefore, the release of any piece cannot occur without his/her knowledge or direct participation.
He explained that small pieces, such as jewelry or precision tools, are usually stored in iron cabinets under the supervision of the lab manager responsible for them, while it is difficult to move the heavy pieces at all due to their size and security measures.
About the theft of the famous bracelet, Amer clarified that the employee possibly thought it was unregistered, which tempted her to steal it, an unfortunate matter, as any unregistered pieces are difficult to locate if taken.
He considered that the incident at the "Khenti-Ka" tomb is a clear example of these gaps, since the tomb was closed for a long period, and upon opening, some of its contents were found missing, necessitating the implementation of regular inventory every two weeks to ensure documentation of each piece's condition and monitoring any changes.
He emphasized that the absence of regular inspections, especially by senior inspectors, represents a dangerous loophole that allows violations to pass without detection, adding that the danger doubles if the pieces are not officially registered.
He considered that the "Khenti-Ka" tomb incident reflects the dangers of not having regular inventory, recommending that inventory takes place every two weeks to ensure monitoring the condition of the pieces and documenting them accurately.
In terms of protection technologies, he emphasized the importance of digital tracking and archaeological fingerprinting to identify each piece and prevent tampering, and regarding the idea of creating a unified storehouse for artifacts, Amer saw it as an important step, but complicated to execute due to the massive number of pieces exceeding two million and the high cost, though it would help in determining responsibilities and monitoring the archaeological inventory accurately.
He confirmed that vast sites like the Pyramids of Giza, Abu Rawash, and Faiyum need an enhancement of monitoring systems with cameras and fences and equipping security elements with weapons, to ensure fast intervention and reporting of any potential security breach.
Reihan mentioned that all original archaeological pieces inside museums are registered with international codes allowing for their tracking if smuggled, but the real danger lies in old storages that are not digitized, lacking comprehensive inventory and photographic documentation, facilitating the substitution or embezzlement of pieces.
"Head of the Campaign for the Defense of Egyptian Civilization" called for the establishment of a unified electronic database for Egyptian fixed and movable antiquities, linked with international tracking networks, confirming that some archaeological sites like Karnak have been using this system for decades.
The expert stressed that most storage facilities lack modern preservation and security standards, making them a fertile ground for thefts, recommending their rehabilitation according to strict technical and security specifications including high-resolution surveillance cameras, sensor devices, alarms, and a daily inventory of pieces.
