Museum Workers Stand Trial over Damage to Tut's Mask

Eight workers from the Cairo Museum are to face possible fines and disciplinary measures including possible dismissal after damaging the world famous funerary mask.

Tutankhamun’s gold mask has become the symbol of Ancient Egypt and even archaeology. Stories differ but the Mask’s beard was either knocked off when being cleaned or was removed because it was loose in 2014. It was was then haistily reattached using inappropriate glue. Eight Egyptian museum staff, including the former general manager, who are linked with this botched repair job are being tried for gross negligence.

More recently the mask was taken off display and the botched repair of the beard was repaired by an international team of scientists. However despite this there are still scratches remaining from the initial botched effort. Tutankhamun’s mask went back on display to the public in the Cairo Museum in December last year.