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[CULTURE] · Romania, Netherlands · 16 sources

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Coiful de la Coțofenești enters final restoration stage

The National Museum of Romanian History (MNIR) has announced that the Coiful de la Coțofenești, a 2,400-year-old Geto-Dacian gold artifact, has entered the final stage of restoration. The piece was recovered in April 2026 after being stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands in January 2025.

Restorer Alexandru Dozsa utilized experimental techniques, including customized pressure systems between thermoplastic molds, to repair severe structural deformations caused during the theft. Museum officials stated that the most difficult challenge, addressing the flattening of the helmet, has been successfully resolved. While the artifact is nearly back to its original form, some minor adjustments, such as reattaching a decorative collar, are still required.

The helmet is expected to be returned to public exhibition on January 15, 2027, to coincide with National Culture Day. In a related development, the Ministry of Culture is planning a major 100 million euro investment to modernize and consolidate the MNIR building, which may involve moving the museum's 17 million objects to temporary storage for approximately five years.

Entities

Alexandru Dozsa · Cornel Ilie · Coțofenești Helmet · Ioana Ciocan · National Museum of History of Romania · National Museum of Romanian History

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Ziarul De Sălaj [ziaruldesalaj.ro]