Curse of the Pharaohs at Giza

http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=2&id=8832

The old chestnut comes out for another airing but this time beyond the realm of Tutankhamun. In spite of talk about curses, and car engines catching fire, the story is an interesting account of the discovery of the solar barques: "The Solar Boats were discovered in May 1954 while Kamal al Mallakh and Anis Mansour were having lunch at the Excelsior restaurant in the centre of the city [Cairo]. They received a phone call from Garceni who was responsible for removing the heaps of sand that covered the southern side of King Cheops' [the Great] Pyramid. As usual in archeological zones, the director was responsible for architectural works and removing the huge blocks of stone from the site.
The story began in 1944 during a visit by King Farouk and King Abdulaziz Al Saud to the pyramid in a royal horse and carriage. French archeologist Monsieur Drioton, the then director of the antiquities department, briefed them on the archeological zone. As the royal coach passed behind Cheops' pyramid, the Saudi monarch noticed a towering heap of sand and stones by the southern side of the pyramid and brought it to the attention of King Farouk, who directed Drioton to remove the mound. The antiquities department allocated 50 Egyptian Pounds for the operation. The removal of approximately 60,000 cubic meters of sand and stones exposed the remains of the archeological wall that surrounded the pyramid, which is part of the Great Pyramid's complex."

See the above page for more about the discovery.

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