Thursday, November 12, 2009

News: SCA announcement re Lost Army discovery

Thanks to Bob Partridge, editor of Ancient Egypt magazine, for forwarding an urgent announcement from the Supreme Council of Antiquities:

We need to inform you that recent reports published in newspapers, news agencies and TV news announcing that “twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni have unearthed remains of the Persian army of Cambyses,” are unfounded and misleading. The brothers are not heading any archaeological mission in Berenike Panchrysos at the small Bahrin Oasis near Siwa Oasis. This site has been excavated since 2002 by an Italian mission led by Dr. Paulo Gallo of Turin University

The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has already informed the proper legal and security authorities in Egypt and are taking the necessary procedures.

One had a suspicion that something like this would be forthcoming!

5 comments:

Ann said...

The 'Berenike Panchrysos' is said to be their 'previous discovery', so does this make the assumption of the lost army invalid too?

Anonymous said...

When they reported their finds to the authorities, they got no response, and now that they announced their finds to the media, bypassing ZH, they do get response, namely villification...
Anyone surprised? The SCA message says nothing about the finds, but everything about ZH. ;o

Anonymous said...

Berenike Panchrysos is in SUDAN, not "at the small Bahrin Oasis near Siwa Oasis," as stated by the SCA

Jona said...

There are many reasons not to believe the story in the first place: http://rambambashi.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/cambyses-not-so-lost-army/

Anonymous said...

One might not like it, but it is clearly stated in the contract signed by any director undertaking archaeological research in Egypt that any significant discovery must be reported to the SCA. If one disagrees, he is not obliged to sign the contract. By experience, it is true that you are not kept informed by the SCA of the dateof the public release (if any).
Unfortunately, such scientifically unsound announcements as the one done by the Castiglionis, completely justify this SCA rule, intended to prevent these false or prematurate public announcements. If the Castioglioni consider that they don't need to follow the Egyptian legislation to conduct archaeological research in Egypt (whatever it says and how criticable it might be), don't be surprised if they have problems. What would be the reaction if someone starts excavations in Britain, France or anywhere else without the proper authorization ? Now, the question of the competence or the real intentions of the people in charge in Egypt is another problem. Don't mix up things.