King Tut "Irreversibly Damaged" by Botched Repair

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the damage to King Tut's burial mask due to a botched repair involving inappropriate adhesive. Participants explore the implications of this incident, the responses from museum curators, and the broader context of artifact preservation.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration over the use of epoxy for repairs, labeling it as "irreversible" and unsuitable for such an important artifact.
  • Conflicting accounts from museum curators regarding the incident raise questions about the timeline and circumstances of the damage.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of documenting the incident accurately to maintain the provenance of the artifact.
  • Another participant reflects on their personal experience of viewing the original King Tut exhibit, highlighting the cultural significance of the artifacts.
  • Some comments suggest skepticism about the museum's handling of the situation, with sarcasm directed at the decision-making process behind the repair.
  • There is a mention of the chaotic state of the Cairo Museum, implying that such incidents are not surprising given the environment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with some agreeing on the inappropriateness of the repair method while others focus on the implications of the incident for artifact preservation. No consensus is reached on the best course of action or the motivations behind the repair.

Contextual Notes

Unresolved issues include the exact circumstances of the damage, the timeline of events, and the motivations behind the curators' decisions. The discussion reflects a mix of personal anecdotes and critical perspectives on museum practices.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in archaeology, artifact preservation, museum studies, and cultural heritage may find this discussion relevant.

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The most famous archaeological relic in the world has been damaged during a botched cleaning attempt. After being knocked off, the blue and gold braided beard on King Tut's burial mask was "hastily" glued back on with an inappropriate adhesive, damaging the item even further.

Brace yourselves, folks. This story is all kinds of messed up. As The Associated Press isreporting, it appears that the beard was quickly glued back on by curators at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with epoxy, an "irreversible material" that's completely unsuitable for a restoration effort of this importance. Conservators at the museum revealed the incident yesterday.

Frustratingly, the story isn't entirely clear because three of the museum's curators are offering conflicting accounts. It's not known when the incident happened, or whether the iconic beard was accidentally knocked off or removed because it was loose. What we do know, however, is that the curators were "ordered" from above to fix it quickly and that epoxy was used. All three curators refused to give their names for fear of professional reprisals...

http://io9.com/king-tuts-burial-mask-has-been-irreversibly-damaged-1681085211
 
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So long as everyone calms down and documents what did and did not happen, the provenance has NOT been affected. Lie, fib, and cover up, and posterity will have many rude things to say.
 
Nowhere else on the internet could offer so many insights and mindful reports like does PF. I'm lovin' it! Please keep us informed. :D (I'm so excited now). Thank you PF's top-notch, excellent scientists!
 
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I actually saw the original King Tut exhibit in the 70's when I was a kid, in Los Angeles. It was really cool. These beautifully crafted sculptures many of which were made out of solid gold. I do remember that. Also, these kind of hybrid human-animal forms. Pretty trippy for a ten year old.
 
But King Tut is still dead, right?
 
DiracPool said:
I actually saw the original King Tut exhibit in the 70's when I was a kid, in Los Angeles.
And do you recall me telling you not to play with your yo-yo right there?
 
Anybody who has ever visited the chaotic mess that is the Cairo Museum will not be in any way surprised.
 
That's a great idea. Let's use epoxy on a relic that has a lot of cultural meaning across the world to save our butts because if they realize we broke it while cleaning we are done for. We are done for too if they realize we used epoxy, but by then we will be far away. Besides, they wanted to save money. They get what they pay. It's not our fault.

-Internet Secret Technique: Sarcasm!
Internet Secret Technique: Sarcasm! is a very useful technique on the realms of the internet that converts all or some of the text above its invocation into sarcasm.
 
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