Walkthrough

Egyptian Mummy Head Kept In A Cupboard For A Century Up For Sale

The skull has been carbon dated to between 800BC and 750 BCSwan Fine Art

"I'm hoping that a museum will pick up on the carbon dating and historical importance."

While the relative is hoping to sell the priceless mummied head, he said he would consider lending it out if there are no takers.

"If it doesn't sell, I will probably loan it to a museum where it can be on display anyway," the relative added.

The head is being sold at Swan Fine Arts auctions in Tetsworth. It is set to be auctioned off on Wednesday.

Matthew Hull, a specialist at Swan Fine Art, told Daily Mail such an artifact was an unusual find.

The ancient mummified head is being auctioned for £20,000.Swan Fine Art

"It's very rare to see an Egyptian mummy head from the ancient world at public auction, particularly a piece with such superb preservation."

According to Hull, the head going up for auction was mummified during the Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt, which was between 1070 BC and 664 BC.

Pet Shop Tortoises Were On Sale Illegally

THE owner of a Hampshire reptile shop has been fined £1,000 with £400 costs for illegally offering two endangered animals for sale.

Southampton Crown Court heard that the future of the Hermann's tortoise species is under threat.

Shop owner Neil McLennan admitted offering for sale a specimen of a protected species in contravention of the European Communities Act and the Control of Trade of Endangered Species Regulations.

The case comes after his shop sold two rare tortoises without the necessary certificates in September 2010.

The animals had been returned to the shop by a customer who no longer wanted them.

Richard Tutt, defending, said the case did not involve the unlawful trade of tortoises but concerned certificates not being properly followed.

He added that McLennan, 43, of Holmesland Drive, Botley, had since changed his policy and his shop no longer took in unwanted pets.

McLennan denied a second charge alleging he had illegally purchased the Hermann's tortoises, which was accepted by the prosecution, and it was ordered to lie on the file.

Hermann's tortoises, which can be sold for more than £110 each, originate from southern Europe and can live to about 80 years old.

Egyptian Tortoise

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