Cairo museum reports 3,000-year-old bracelet missing

Egyptian authorities are investigating the disappearance of a 3,000-year-old gold bracelet from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Once owned by Pharaoh Amenemope of the 21st Dynasty, it was last seen in the museum’s restoration lab, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, according to CNN.

Officials have alerted airports, seaports and border crossings to prevent smuggling. The museum stated that online photos claiming to show the missing bracelet actually display a different piece still on view.

Experts believe the artifact may have been stolen to be sold, melted down, hidden in a private collection, or left somewhere nearby, as has happened before. The ministry is now checking all items in the restoration area.

Egypt has faced antiquities theft for decades, with looted treasures appearing on the black market or in private collections abroad.