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>>ANCHOR: Vandals have been using the unrest in Egypt as an excuse to steal or damage artifacts
from Cairo's museums. YNN's Scott Patterson spoke with some local experts say any damage
done goes far beyond Egypt.
>>REPORTER: It's one of the cradles of human civilization, which means Egypt's museums
house some of the world's oldest objects.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: They're just so intriguing as an expression of human understanding.
>>REPORTER: Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery has a collection of Egyptian artifacts.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: They were made to fit the tomb of a man called [Egyptian name].
>>REPORTER: But nothing compared to the museums of Cairo.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: The quantity and numbers and significance is just almost unbelievable.
>>REPORTER: Which is why MAG assistant curator of education Sydney Greaves is so distressed
to see Egyptian museums being looted.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: It's horrifying. The idea of something happening like that. The idea
that people could take these incredibly old, one of a kind objects.
>>ANDREW MOORE: These objects are often very delicate. They require expert and specialist
handling.
>>REPORTER: RIT archaeology professor Andrew Moore travels the world preserving artifacts.
>>ANDREW MOORE: Often great damage will be done to delicate objects that cannot ever
be truly repaired thereafter.
>>REPORTER: It\'s not like you can just replace something that\'s been broken. Take this,
for example, an artifact that's head has been broken. You could make a new head for it,
but it would take away from the historical value.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: It changes the history. It changes the story of that object.
>>REPORTER: Greaves and Moore both say they're encouraged by Egyptians who have formed human
chains around the Cairo Museum to protect their country's history.
>>ANDREW MOORE: For the last 5,000 years we've had a continuous story of human cultural development,
right down to the present day. Egyptians are very conscious of this deep heritage.
>>REPORTER: But given the current threat of looting and theft, it's not just Egypt's history
that's at stake.
>>SYDNEY GREAVES: All that speaks for the people of the past is their art, their architecture,
the artifacts that they leave behind. That\'s why these objects are not just important to
the Egyptian people, which they are, which they should be, but to all of us.
>>REPORTER: Scott Patterson, YNN.