13 Ancient Egyptian Artifacts Seized by US Government at JFK Airport
The US government has seized 14 ancient Egyptian artifacts at JFK airport, including a 5,200-year-old vase, between 2020 and 2021. The items were seized under the federal crime of smuggling goods into the US. List of Seized Artifacts A faience amulet of the goddess Hatmehyt from Egypt's Late Period (664BCE–332 BCE) A Egyptian wooden canopic jar cover from the New Kingdom Period, dating to the 19th Dynasty or later (1300 BCE) A Cypriot vessel Two painted limestone Shabtis A painted limestone bed figurine from ancient Egypt's New Kingdom period (1549 BCE–1075 BCE) Two phallic figurines from 664–30 BCE A pre-Dynastic vase from 3500 BCE–3200 BCE A limestone lug-handled jar from 3000 BCE–2600 BCE Investigation and Seizure The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations agent Aaron Klein, who filed a 22-page declaration naming six individuals and companies involved in the smuggling. The items were purchased by antiquities collector Mark Ragan, who bought eight of the ...