Coins, mummies and statues point to Cleopatra tomb

[willieboyd2 0]

Coins, mummies and statues point to Cleopatra tomb

 

BURG EL-ARAB, Egypt

 

Egypt's top archaeologist made his version of a sales pitch Sunday, presenting

22 coins, 10 mummies, and a fragment of a mask with a cleft chin as evidence that

the discovery of the lost tomb of Mark Antony and Cleopatra is at hand.

 

Zahi Hawass showed off the ancient treasures to journalists during a tour of a

2,000-year-old temple to the god Osiris, where they were found. He believes the

site near the Mediterranean Sea contains the tomb of the doomed lovers that has

been shrouded in mystery for so long.

 

However...

 

Hawass' claim is the latest spectacular announcement by the archaeologist, who

continues to capitalize on the world's fascination with ancient Egypt. He

regularly unveils discoveries that are often met with skepticism and bemusement

by Egyptologists abroad.

 

In the past, archaeologists have not always backed Hawass' more enthusiastic

claims and suggested a degree of caution is sometimes warranted.

 

Yahoo News story:

(Sorry, no pictures of the coins)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090419/ap_on_...leopatra_s_tomb

 

Here is what a Cleopatra coin looks like:

 

[frank 0]

I have an archaeologist friend who has done excavations in the Middle East and who has had run-ins with Zahi. She says he controls access to as many important sites as he can -- he loves the spotlight and isn't willing to share it.