The long-lost half of this 23-foot Egyptian statue has resurfaced after almost 100 years

After 96 years, Ramesses II, one of the most celebrated pharaohs in the 31 dynasties of ancient Egyptian history, finally has his head back.

Almost a century ago, German archaeologist Günther Roeder believed he had uncovered an enormous statue of the pharaoh about 150 miles south of Cairo in the Minya Governorate, near the modern-day city of El Ashmunein. But what he had actually discovered was only the bottom half of an estimated 23-foot-tall monument.

Decades-long search ends with major find

For decades, experts assumed the rest of the statue was buried in the surrounding desert. Early attempts to locate the missing piece failed, until a joint team of Egyptian and American archaeologists finally unearthed the long-lost top half in January 2024.

A spokesperson from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities told Reuters the missing portion measures about 12.5 feet and depicts Ramesses II wearing a headdress topped with a royal cobra.

Concerns over damage prove unfounded

Archaeologists feared the head might have been damaged after decades underground, especially since it was discovered near the Nile and the Aswan Low Dam, where water could have eroded the stone.

“There was no guarantee that the stone would be OK,” said study co-leader Yvona Trnka-Amrhein of the University of Colorado in a press release. “Sometimes sandstone is uncovered that is basically just sand or degraded limestone. It could have just been a lump of rock.”

Traces of ancient color revealed

To their relief, the missing piece was incredibly well-preserved when it was recovered. Researchers were even surprised to find traces of blue and yellow pigment, offering new clues about how the statue was originally crafted and painted.

A proposal has already been submitted to reunite the newly discovered top half with the base, and officials expect it to be approved.

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