Tutankhamun's burial mask, one of the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities' most valued treasures, has been under investigation for the inappropriate way in which its beard was restored. In an attempt to cover up their negligence, high-ranking employees at the institution (also known as the Cairo Museum) hid the fact that the famed blue-and-gold piece had come apart and, later, their crude restoration. Now, they face trial. According to the BBC, "the 3,000-year-old mask is one of Cairo's greatest tourist draws", and the Egyptian Museum's curators have offered differing explanations of the circumstances in which it was damaged. Some said that the beard piece broke by accident, while others explained that it was detached intentionally because it was about to break. The judicial authorities claim that museum officials attempted to cover up their mistake by using large amounts of an inadequate epoxy to reattach the piece. Among the accused are a former director and a former restoration chief of the museum. In October, a restoration team led by German experts began to repair the damage and reattach the beard using professional methods. Tutankhamun's burial mask came back on exhibit in December.