Timeline: Egyptian Reclamation Project

Jul 15, 1799

Rosetta Stone Discovered

Rosetta Stone found by soldiers in Napoleon's soldiers in 1799 while digging the foundations of an addition to a fort near the town of el-Rashid.

Mar 21, 1801

Rosetta stone becomes British Property

On Napoleon's defeat, the stone became the property of the British under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria along with other antiquities that the French had found. It became part of an exhibit at The British Museum. The museum has been home to the stone from that time, except 1918-1919.
Towards the end of the First World War, in 1917, when the Museum was concerned about heavy bombing in London, they m

Period: Jan 1, 1820 to Dec 31, 1820

Removal of the Dendera Zodiac

Sebastien-Louis Saulnier commissions Jean Baptiste Leloraine to remove circular Dendera Zodiac

Apr 28, 1821

Dendra Zodiac Moves to France

Dendera Zodiac Ceiling moved to Restoration Paris in 1821

Apr 28, 1912

Statue of Hemiunu Discovered

Statue of Hemiunu discovered in 1912, immediately transported to the Roemer-und Pelizaeus-Museum

Dec 6, 1912

Discovery of Nerfertiti Bust

A German archeological team led by Ludwig Borchardt discovered the Nefertiti bust in 1912 in Thutmose's workshop in Amarna, Egypt.

Apr 28, 1913

Nefertiti Bust Shipped to Berlin

Nefertiti bust shipped to Berlin and presented to James Simon, who keeps it in his residence in

Period: Apr 28, 1918 to Apr 28, 1920

Rosetta Stone Goes Underground

For fear of being destroyed in WWI, Rosetta Stone is moved 50 feet underground at Holborn from 1918-1920

Apr 28, 1920

Nerfertiti bust moved to Berlin Museum

Nefertiti bust moved to Berlin Museum in 1920

Period: Apr 28, 1920 to Apr 28, 2010

Rosetta Stone in British Museum

Rosetta Stone moved back to British Museum in 1920 and has been there since, except for one month when it was displayed at the Louvre in Paris for the 150th anniversary of the decipherment of hieroglyphic

Apr 28, 1923

Nefertiti Bust to Neues Museum in Berlin

Nefertiti bust moved to Neues Museum in 1923

Apr 8, 1927

Bust of Anckhhaf Found

Bust of Anckhhaf found by Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Harvard University; given possession due to thanks for extensive work done

Apr 28, 1964

Zodiac Dendera to the Louvre

The Zodiac Dendera moves to a new housing at the Louvre in Paris

Apr 28, 1967

Nefertiti bust moved to Charlottenburg

Apr 28, 1996

Hemiunu is shipped to the U.S.

Statue of Hemiunu is shipped to United States in January 1996 for “Splendors of Ancient Egypt" exhibition.

Jul 26, 2003

Hawass requests use of Rosetta Stone

Zahi Hawass demands that the Rosetta Stone be returned to Egypt. The British Museum replies and requests to see the security details in place before a loan can happen.