King Tut's Beard

Last year King Tut’s Golden funeral mask was accidentally disfigured. An employee at the Cairo Museum accidentally knocked off the beard while working on the exhibits lighting. Hasty attempts were made to reattach the beard with epoxy glue, which is not soluble or museum quality. But experts stated that they would be able to restore the mask without any permanent damage. Restorers are now displaying the lab work that is being done on the mask, detailing what techniques will be used to remove the epoxy and discussing how to detach and reattach the beard to the mask. It is estimated that the work will take 1 to 2 months. It is uncertain how deep the glue has gone into the beard and mask, but specialists are doing their best to remove it. Wooden sticks are being used to remove the beard and glue and there is talk of trying to melt the glue off somehow.

                The discovery of King Tut’s tomb by Howard Cater in 1921 shook the world and cause a great deal of excitement and interest in Egypt. It is important to restore the beard and mask because King Tut’s mask is one of Cairo’s main tourist attractions, with people visiting it from all around the world. Restorers are using and viewing this situation in a positive way by capitalizing on the chance to learn more about the mask and how it was made. Researchers and experts will study the beard and mask, particularly the areas where the beard was broken off, to explore what material and techniques were used to make the mask. Manufacturing techniques used by Egyptians to create masks like this is still a mystery, this is a rare chance to change this. I think it is great that researchers are turning such a terrible incident into an optimistic project to learn more and let the world know about what is being done in this situation. 

Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/researchers-put-king-tutankhamun-mask-restoration-on-display/