Hawass explained in exclusive statements to ” ” that the “Rosetta Stone” is a clear example of the theft of rare and important artifacts from Egyptian civilization, as well as “Lord Carnarvon’s” theft of items from the tomb of Tutankhamun. It is noteworthy that the British Museum dedicates seven rooms to exhibit ancient Egyptian artifacts, ranging from statues, mummies, furniture, and jewelry to historical and medical papyri, all of which left Egypt through illegal means.
The discovery of the Rosetta Stone dates back to July 1799 when it was found by one of the French campaign officers in the city of Rashid. After the French campaign, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, left Egypt, the ownership of the stone, along with other artifacts found by the French in Egypt, was transferred to Britain. This transfer was under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria in 1801, which in paragraph 14 states, “France cedes the stone and all the artifacts it discovered in Egypt to Britain,” allowing the stone to become part of the British Museum’s exhibits in London since 1802. These agreements occurred between two occupying powers, neither of which had the right to retain Egyptian artifacts.
Some Egyptian antiquities researchers indicate that the artifacts that left Egypt illegally and are currently in British museums exceed 100,000 pieces, a crime that deserves to be addressed and not ignored. He added in his conversation with “Sputnik” that British museums alone house approximately 200,000 Egyptian artifacts, in addition to those stored in unknown British museum warehouses.
He pointed out that Britain is the country where Egyptian artifacts are most frequently sold through online auctions, including many statues and artifacts, such as a part of the “Sphinx’s beard,” some obelisks, mummies, and entire ships of artifacts that were in the possession of the French fleet during the “Battle of Aboukir.” He emphasized that British warehouses hold many treasures from Egypt and other countries, having stolen treasures from Egyptian artifacts belonging to all eras, as well as from various countries worldwide, not just from Egypt.
