The arrest of tomb robbers led archaeologists to the graves of three royal dentists, protected by a curse and hidden in the desert sands for thousands of years in the shadow of Egypt's most ancient pyramid, officials announced Sunday.

The thieves launched their own dig one summer night two months ago, but were apprehended, Zahi Hawass, chief of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters.

That led archaeologists to the three tombs, one of which included an inscription warning that anyone who violated its sanctity would be eaten by a crocodile and a snake, Hawass said.

A towering, painted profile of the chief dentist stares down at passers-by from the wall opposite the inscription.

The tombs date back more than 4,000 years to the 5th Dynasty and were meant to honour a chief dentist and two others who treated the pharaohs and their families, Hawass said...

Tombs Of Three Royal Dentists Found In Egypt, Sierra Millman, AP via Hartford Courant, Connecticut, USA, October 23, 2006.

cf. Thieves first to discover 3 royal dentists' tombs in shadow of Egypt's oldest pyramid, Sierra Millman, AP via Augusta Chronicle, Georgia, USA, October 22, 2006.

cf. Thieves first to discover 3 royal dentists' tombs in shadow of Egypt's oldest pyramid, Sierra Millman, AP via Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, October 24, 2006.

cf. Four pictures can be found here: Yahoo! News Anthropology & Archaeology Slideshow, Yahoo! News, USA, October 22, 2006.

Zahi Hawass won the Emmy Oscar Award for the special that he did with David Jackson called Egyptian special. David Jackson came to Egypt on the Sept. 26 .2006 and presented the award to Zahi Hawass at his office in Zamalek. This is the first time that an Egyptian got this award and also the first time that non television person got this award...

Dr. Hawass Receives an Emmy!, Zahi Hawass, Guardian's Egypt, October 23, 2006.