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ツタンカーメンのひげ折って接着剤修理、博物館長ら起訴
古代エジプトのファラオ（王）ツタンカーメンの黄金のマスクのあごひげ部分を博物館員が過って破損し、不適切な修復をしていた問題で、エジプト検察当局は、エジプト考古学博物館の当時の館長や修復担当責任者ら８人を職務怠慢の罪で起訴したと２３日に発表した。
検察は「科学的、専門的な修復方法を無視し、人類最古の文明の所産を傷つけた」とした。博物館員らは２０１４年８月、展示ケースの照明調節のためにマスクを取り出し、ケースに戻す際にひげを根元から折ってしまった。強力な接着剤でひげをくっつけたが、接着剤が多すぎてはみだしたため、同１０月と１１月、その部分を金属の道具で取り除こうとしてさらにマスクを傷めたとされる。館長らは管理責任を問われている。
司法関係者によると、８人は罰金を科されたり、停職処分を受けたりする可能性がある。
ひげの破損と不適切な修復は、１５年１月に発覚するまで公表されなかった。検察は博物館側に隠蔽（いんぺい）の意図があったとしている。考古省はドイツ人専門家らを交えた修復委員会を発足させ、昨年１２月にマスクは適切に修復された。（カイロ＝翁長忠雄）
（朝日新聞デジタル 2016年1月25日20時09分）
(朝日新聞社提供)
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