The ministries of antiquities and foreign affairs restored a smuggled artifact from Italy after the Italian authorities seized it in 2018.

In a press release, the Antiquities and Tourism Ministry said that Egyptian Ambassador in Rome Hisham Badr received the piece on Thursday, adding that this comes within the framework of Egyptian-Italian cooperation to preserve the national heritage in both countries.

All procedures were taken to bring the piece back home as soon as possible, the ministry added.

The artifact, which was stolen and smuggled out of Egypt, is a piece of the cover of a wooden coffin that dates back to the late period of ancient Egypt.