Frausters beware: fake statues can now be unmasked using X-rays. The technique can also reveal information about how metal and ceramic artefacts were made, without harming them.

At present, distinguishing between genuine porcelain antiques and fakes means drilling into samples to test them (New Scientist, 26 September 2005, p 21). Museums and collectors are reluctant to do this as it risks damaging the pieces, says Franco Rustichelli, a materials scientist at the Polytechnic University of the Marche in Ancona, Italy. Conventional X-ray images can reveal the different materials inside an object, but do not provide much information about antiques made from a single substance, he says...

Fake statues unmasked with X-rays, New Scientist Magazine, UK, issue 2543, March 20, 2006, p. 27.

Tutankhamun, known as “King Tut,” is making a comeback. The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago will feature a special exhibit, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” from May 26 [2006] through the end of the year.

“We’re really excited about the exhibit,” said David Foster, project management director for the museum.

The museum will feature almost 120 artifacts from ancient Egypt, from Tut’s tomb and from those of his royal ancestors.

“One room is breathtaking, lots of golden objects from the tomb of who would have been (Tut’s) great-grandparents,” said Foster...

‘Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs’ opens May 26 in Chicago – one of only four U.S. cities to have the exhibit, The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, Indiana, USA, March 18, 2006.

by Zahi Hawass

After the discovery of the tomb of Djed-Khonsu-ef-ankh, my adventures were far from over. A break in the shaft leading from his tomb brought us to a room full of sand and a second sealed chamber. About a foot in, I glimpsed the head and an alabaster sarcophagus. As I pushed forward, the wire of the lamp snapped, and I got a shock that knocked me unconscious.

A few minutes later, I opened my eyes and saw my assistants looking down at me and asking, "What happened? Are you all right?" I stood up and told them that I was OK and said "If I had died, this would have made the headlines in all the papers: "Curse of the Pharaohs Strikes Again!" But, I could not believe that I was safe, for the next few hours I continued to feel the electricity shaking my body.

The tomb belonged to Naesa II, wife of Djed-Khonsu-ef-ankh. Inside we discovered 239 shawabtis and 103 pieces of gold. We named this tomb the Golden Tomb.

Unfortunately, tomb robbers had damaged Naesa's mummy, but we ascertained she was four and half feet tall, and lived to old age. Her sarcophagus, like that of her husband's, was surrounded with hematite powder. It completely blocked my ears and gave me an ear infection, although I was not aware of it. I returned to Cairo for my son Karim's graduation from college and also attended a party arranged by the American University Press in Cairo for their authors. Mark Linz, the head of the press, asked me to give a speech.

As Mark introduced me, I became dizzy and fell. I could not get up nor answer, but I could hear everyone talking. I was afraid I would die!

Mark and his assistant called an ambulance. By the time they arrived, I had recovered a little. The ambulance took me to the emergency room, and they found nothing wrong with me. I went home, but continued to feel dizzy. Finally they discovered I had an ear infection and put me on antibiotics. A week later, I was better.

The golden tomb, The Egyptian Gazette, Egypt, March 20, 2006.

Two men have been bailed by police investigating the alleged forgery of a valuable Egyptian statue.

The 3,300-year-old Amarna Princess was bought by Bolton Museum nearly three years ago for £440,000 to add to its existing Egyptology collection.

The 52cm-high sculpture is believed to be one of the daughters of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and his queen, Nefertiti.

Metropolitan Police Art & Antiques Unit arrested two Bolton men aged 83 and 46 on suspicion of forgery last week...

Egyptian statue in forgery claim, BBC News, UK, March 20, 2006. [Update] BBC have a video showing the statue and an interview with Egyptologist Angela P. Thomas which can be found here: Egyptian statue in forgery claim.

cf. Museum secures rare Egyptian sculpture, BBC News, UK, September 30, 2003.

Leading pyramid experts from Egypt will visit the archaeological site in Visoko in May and August this year at the invitation by the “Archaeological Park: the Bosnian Pyramid of Sun” Foundation.

Head of the Egyptian Archaeology Department at the Ain Shems University PhD Shafia Bedir and PhD Ali Abdallah Berekat will visit BiH.

They will spend four weeks working with their BiH colleagues at the site of the Bosnian Pyramid of Sun in an effort to confirm scientific results.

“We are very pleased with the results of talks held with our Egyptian colleagues. Egypt is famous for its pyramids. They have acted as true gentlemen in deciding to take part in the international verification of our research”, Foundation Steering Board member Senad Hodovic said.

EGYPTIAN EXPERTS TO VISIT THE BOSNIAN PYRAMID OF SUN, FENA, Bosnia and Herzegovina, March 17, 2006.

cf. Official site: Bosnian Pyramids.