Photos: Zahi Hawass to launch campaign to recover Nefertiti Bust, Dendera zodiac & Rosetta Stone

Visitors take pictures of the statue of Nefertiti (Nofretete) in the bulletproof display box during the opening for the public at 'Neues Museum' (New Museum) building in Berlin October 17, 2009. The famous bust which is part of the collections of the Egyptian Museum, the Papyrus Collection, the Collection of Ancient Antiquities as well as the Museum of Pre- and Early History was returned to display at its original location in the New Museum building on Museum Island and opened for the public on Saturday. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY SOCIETY)

Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass announced his plans to launch a major public campaign in September demanding the return of the Nefertiti Bust, the Rosetta Stone, and the Dendera zodiac so that they can be placed within the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The Nefertiti Bust has been in the Berlin Museum since 1923, while the Rosetta Stone has been in the British Museum since 1802.

The Dendera zodiac is currently displayed at the Louvre in France.

Zahi Hawass requests Rosetta Stone return from British Museum

Hawass made the announcement during a lecture on Sunday regarding recent archaeological discoveries in Egypt, held in the Italian city of Orvieto in the presence of the city’s mayor and many cultural figures.

He discussed several new archaeological discoveries in Saqqara and Luxor and “The ScanPyramids” mission, noting that 2024-2025 will witness many very important archaeological discoveries in Luxor and Saqqara.

‘”Archaeological missions are currently searching for the pyramid of King Huni in Saqqara, in addition to the tomb and mummy of Queen Nefertiti and Queen Ankhesenamun,” he said, adding that “work is currently underway to restore the tomb of King Ramses II in Luxor.”