A US national who tried to leave Egypt with the sandstone head of an ancient Egyptian pharoah Wednesday night was ordered not to travel abroad pending investigation, airport officials said Thursday.
The officials said they found the head of a statue of the ancient Egyptian king Ramses II after it showed up on an x-ray machine as the unidentified American was preparing to fly to New York.
The official issued the travel ban after an antiquities official, called to the airport, said the object was suspected to date back to ancient times and recommended further investigation.
The American said he had bought the head for 500 Egyptian pounds (130 dollars) in Aswan, the south Egyptian ancient site and tourist attraction, Al-Akhbar newspaper reported – CAIRO (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
