I'm not one who believes we need to return artifacts to their country of origin in the name of PC or anti-imperialism -- but given how this particular artifact came into private hands, I believe this is appropriate.

Locks of 3,200-year-old hair from the pharaoh Ramses II have been unveiled at the Egyptian Museum, returned to Egypt after being stolen 30 years ago in France and put up for sale on the Internet.

The small tufts of brown hair were displayed alongside pieces of linen bandages and 11 pieces of resin used in the mummification of Ramses and his son Merneptah in a glass display case. Photographers mobbed the case as Egypt's culture minister and antiquities chief showed off the returned items. The hair will eventually be displayed next to Ramses' mummy at the museum.

The theft was discovered when the pieces of hair were put up for sale on a Web site last November by a French postman, Jean-Michel Diebolt, who gave the hair a price tag of $2,600.

Diebolt is the son of a French researcher who examined the 3,200-year-old mummy when it was brought to France in 1976 for treatment to stop the spread of a rare fungus. Diebolt is being investigated in France for allegedly possessing stolen goods.

Egyptian antiquities official Ahmed Saleh traveled to Paris last week to retrieve the stolen items.

"It was wonderful mission. I felt very great when I had the lock of hair of Ramses II in my hand," said Saleh.

Ramses II, who ruled from 1270 to 1213 B.C., is one of ancient Egypt's most famous pharaohs, known for building some of its grandest monuments. Some believe him to be the pharaoh at the time of Moses.

This is clearly stolen property, by any definition. I therefore think it is proper to return the lock of hair to the Egyptians.

Posted by: Greg at 11:01 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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