Egypt starts restoration of ancient King Tut’s coffin

The Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities has said it has startedthe sterilization work of the coffin of ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamun inorder to restore it for the first time since it was discovered in 1922.

The ministry said in a statement on Monday that the coffinwas moved from the isolation area at the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) to thewood restoration plant of the GEM to start the sterilization work inpreparation for the restoration process, Xinhua reported.

   

Last week, the ministry announced that the gilded coffin wastransferred from King Tut’s cemetery in Luxor to the GEM for restoration.

According to the ministry, the initial examination showedthat the gypsum layers bearing the golden layers of the coffin suffer sorts ofdamage.

The ministry also said that there are cracks in the goldenlayer in the cover and base of the coffin.

The ministry confirmed that the coffin will be restored withthe latest methods and scientific techniques, noting that it will be displayedat the GEM which is due to open in 2020.

Tutankhamun, who ascended the throne at the age of nine anddied at 19, is the world’s best-known pharaoh of ancient Egypt. The young kingruled from 1332 BC to 1323 BC, during a period known as the New Kingdom inancient Egypt.

He won his fame for his tomb, which was discovered byBritish Egyptologist Howard Carter in 1922 and has remained one of the bestpreserved.

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