Federal agents in Memphis, Tennessee, have confiscated an ancient Egyptian artifact dating back 3,000 years, which was in a shipment coming from Europe, according to CNN.
The US Customs and Border Protection said it intercepted the lid of an Egyptian canopic jar in the shape of the god Imset on August 17.
The administration said the shipment was sent from a merchant to a private buyer in the US, and the shipper provided conflicting statements about its value.
Experts at the University of Memphis’ Institute of Art and Archeology helped determine the artifact’s authenticity.
The administration said the object likely dates from 1069 BC to 653 BC.
The authorities say the antiquity is protected by bilateral treaties and is an archaeological import subject to confiscation under the 1983 Cultural Property Implementation Act Agreement.
The artifact was handed over to the investigation authorities at the Department of Homeland Security for further examination.
