German guile won Queen Nefertiti

The sculpture of Queen Nefertiti stands in a Berlin museum

Newly published documents show how a
German archaeologist used trickery to smuggle home a fabulous sculpture
of the Egyptian queen, Nefertiti.
The archaeologist, Ludwig Borchardt, listed the bust of Queen Nefertiti among his finds in Egypt in 1913.
But he described it as a worthless piece of gypsum and hid it in a box.
It is now regarded as a supreme artefact of the Pharaonic era
and attracts half a million visitors per year to Berlin's Egyptian
Museum.
'Indescribable'
The BBC correspondent in Cairo, Christian Fraser, says the
document that has ignited this latest row was discovered in the German
Oriental Institute.
It is the account of a meeting between Ludwig Borchardt and an
inspector of antiquities to discuss an inventory of the archaeologist's
discoveries.
There was an agreement for Germany and Egypt to divide the spoils equally.
But the bust of Queen Nefertiti - who reigned as wife of the Sun
King Akhenaten more than 3,000 years ago - was so exquisite that Mr
Borchardt determined to keep it "for Germany", the account says.
The queen was tightly wrapped, placed in a box in a poorly-lit
chamber and kept hidden. The photograph of her that Mr Borchardt handed
over was deliberately unflattering.
He described Nefertiti as being made of gypsum, which is almost
worthless, whereas in fact her regal features were painted on
limestone.
The notes from Mr Borchardt's diary reveal that he knew the sculpture's real value.
"It is indescribable," he said. "You have to see it with your own eyes."
Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities confirmed it had been made aware of the document.
The evidence of this deception could well strengthen Cairo's bid to retrieve their ancient queen, our correspondent says.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7883102.stm