Egypt files 293 artifacts ahead of their European tour

The Egyptian Antiquities Ministry is archiving around 293 artifacts before they travel to a number of European states to start on July 26.

The new archive system allows archaeologists to photo parts of the artifact by a magnifying glass to make sure after they return from their tour that they are identical, said director of the ministry's Sunken Antiquities Department Mohamed Moustafa.

About 80 percent of the would-be exhibited artifacts were recovered from Alexandria, including statues of God Habi and Apis calf.

The tour will start at the Arab World Institute in Paris from September 7, 2015 till January of 2016, then will move to the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin from April 15 to August 15, 2016. The last stop will be in London from November 15, 2016 to March 15, 2017.

Egypt signed a 600,000-euro contract for the exhibition.

He added that necessary procedures were taken to preserve the priceless antiquities which will travel by sea in wooden boxes.