Switzerland's Museum of Basel will this week return to Egypt a limestone stele dating from over four thousand years ago - the first ancient treasure to be given back by another country since the revolt that toppled longtime president Hosni Mubarak in February.

The 51-centimetre stele depicts its owner hunting and is from Egypt's Old Kingdom period (c. 2649-2134 BC), Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said in a statement.

Steles are upright stone slabs or column typically bearing a commemorative inscription or relief design, often serving as a gravestone.

The Museum of Basel is returing the artefact to Egypt amid a repatriation campaign spearheaded by Egypt's antiquities minister Zahi Hawass.

 One of Egypt's most renowned archaeologists, Hawass became a minister earlier this this year. As long ago as in 2002 when headed the Supreme Council of Antiquities, he threatened to cut scientific and research ties with any museums, universities or other institutions that held stolen Egyptian antiquities....