Super glue is a cause of conflict in Egypt today, after an archaeologist snapped a photo of what appeared to be a hasty and botched repair being made to child king Tutankhamen’s burial mask.  Scratches and epoxy residue can be seen near the beard of the mask, indicating to some it was damaged.

Conservators at the museum contend the mask was damaged during a light-bulb change in the display case.  Due to the pressure of renewing the attraction of one of the museum’s most well-known relics, a hasty decision was made, and quick-drying, forever-lasting material was used in the repair.  The New York Times reported the conservator to have said, “The mask should have been taken to the conservation lab, but they were in a rush to get it displayed quickly again and used this quick-drying, irreversible material.”

The director of state-run Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where Tutankhamen’s mask is displayed, Mahmoud el-Helwagy, denied last year’s initial claims of the mask being damaged.  He changed his tune when speaking with BBC on Friday after the photo confirmation of a botched repair.  El-Helwagy admits an adhesive application mistake may have been made during the restoration of the 3,300 year old mask.

Egypt’s Heritage Task Force, a group of Egyptian archaeologists, including Monica Hanna, the archaeologist who confirmed the damage after viewing the artifact on Friday, are planning to file charges against the officials at the museum.  According to the New York Times, Ms. Hanna told Agence France-Presse officials must be held responsible.

Bloggers have erupted on social media, mocking the botched restoration of Tutankhamen’s mask, politicizing the mistake.  In an attempt at dry comedy, they have suggested Tutankhamen requested a beard shave, so as to avoid being mistaken for Islamic militants.  Other images display a sarcastic guide to restoration, with a depiction of super glue being the answer to repairing broken artifacts.