Amateur archaeologists curse pharoahs' guardian

[Dover]

Amateur archaeologists curse pharoahs' guardian

23.11.2004
By ALEX DUVAL SMITH in Paris

Dr Zahi Hawass is one of the most powerful men in history - at least of archaeology - and he is angry.

The 57-year-old is secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities but, as any Egyptologist will tell you, this is the least of his titles.

The self-styled guardian of the pharaohs, commonly referred to as the "Big Zee", is the minder of 4000 years of history, 500 kings, scores of legends, thousands of tourists and hundreds of competing archaeologists.
Yet the theatrical, outspoken and Stetson-wearing Egyptian with a string of academic credits to his name and the power to dictate what the world is told about Ancient Egypt is being challenged relentlessly by two plucky French amateurs.

Retired estate agent Jean-Yves Verd'hurt and architect Gilles Dormion have for two years been applying for permission to poke a 15mm lens through a floor of the Great Pyramid at Giza...cont'd

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3612886&thesection=news&thesubsection=world&thesecondsubsection=