Egyptologist Bassam al-Shammaa has called for pharaonic antiquities that sank with the Titanic to be recovered.

At a symposium entitled “Egypt: the Future of the Past”, held during events of the Damanhour second book fair, Shammaa explained that a woman called Margaret Touban, who survived the sinking, possessed a small Egyptian statue as well as a container of pharaonic statues that sank with the ship.

He obtained a photo of the statue and urged the government to obtain a map from film director James Cameron in order to save the submerged antiquities so they can be showcased in museums.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm