Germany to celebrate centennial of Nefertiti bust discovery

On 6 December, Germany will celebrate 100-year anniversary of discovery of iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti, wife of monotheistic pharaoh Akhenaten, Ahram Online reports.

Eight years ago, a dispute erupted between Germany and Egypt over ownership of the iconic bust, when then-antiquities minister Zahi Hawass – claiming that Borchardt had illegally obtained the bust in 1912 – asked Germany to return it to Egypt. According to Egyptian antiquities laws in the early 20th century, the spoils of any new archaeological discovery should be split between Egypt and the foreign mission concerned; any 'unique' artefacts, however, should be left in Egypt's possession.