Gutted museum in Brazil had relics from across the globe

SUMMARY

Gutted by a massive Sunday night fire, Brazil’s National Museum boasted the largest archive of historical artifacts and documents in Latin America, some 20 million pieces from around the globe. Museum officials say it’s too soon to say what has been lost or spared.

By APSept 10, 2018 2:29:13 PM IST (Published)

This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows an ancient Egyptian gold leaf funeral mask dating to 304 B.C., at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, Sept. 2, 2018, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Riotur shows the oldest human fossil found in Brazil, dubbed Luzia, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Alexandre Macieira/Riotur via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows dragonfly specimens, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Riotur shows assembled dinosaur bones o display in a room at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Alexandre Macieira/Riotur via AP)

Museum security guard Felipe Farias Silva shows the page of a book he found across the street from Brazil's National Museum, which he believes belongs to the institution in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2018. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America’s largest collection of treasures might be lost. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows wooden armor originating from Vancouver, British Columbia, at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows a Mesoamerican mortar at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. The piece was found by workers at Ilha de São João, Rio Trombetas, in the service of engineer João Henrique Diniz and delivered to the Rondon Commission, who offered it to the National Museum in 1929.(Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Brazil's National Museum shows bronze mirror handles dating back to the 6th century A.C., at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. The mirror on the right represents Kouros, a greek sculpture that represents youth. (Museu Nacional Brasil via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Riotur shows a Biology section at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Alexandre Macieira/Riotur via AP)

This undated handout photo provided by Riotur shows assembled prehistoric animal bones o display in a room at the National Museum of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flames tore through the museum Sunday night, and officials have said much of Latin America's largest collection of treasures might be lost. (Alexandre Macieira/Riotur via AP)