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Egyptian Pyramid Mysteries to Be Explored Live

An anonymous reader noted that "National Geographics will probe the inside of a blocked shaft in the Great Pyramid of Giza, and will also open the oldest intact sarcophagus found in moder times." Since this is the shaft where all the secret alien technology has been stored for the last few thousand years, and everyone knows that these "Sarcophagus" things are what the Gou'ald use to regenerate, I think this whole thing will be interesting as hell. Awh who am I kidding- I'm just a junkie on watching those specials where they explore pyramids.

136 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. not 1872! 1993 by Mazzaroth · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The article sais that a stone hatch with copper handle were discovered in 1872. Wrong!.

    In 1992-3, a team using a small robot with a video camera revealed a strange stone slab, which blocks the 40-degree, 200-foot southern lower shaft. This stone has 2 copper fittings. Rudolf Gantenbrink, the head of the research project narrates: The face of the inspector sitting next to me at the monitor has become chalk white. He draws my attention to two round, white marks on the copper fittings. "These are seals, these are seals!" he exclaims, visibly shaken.. Read this totally fascinating story here. The entire UPUAUT project scientific report page is available here too.

  2. shouldn't they leave this lind of stuff to... by mattbland · · Score: 3, Funny

    SG1 !

    --
    /usr/bin/awake/too/long
    1. Re:shouldn't they leave this lind of stuff to... by Wire+Tap · · Score: 1

      Not if Sci Fi cancels that show like Farscape. =(

      --

      Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.

    2. Re:shouldn't they leave this lind of stuff to... by packeteer · · Score: 2

      god i hope by kernel 7.0 we are past 802.11b... the best possible current technology i can think of is 802.11a but even then its going to not be enough soon...

      --
      unzip; strip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; more; yes; unmount; sleep
  3. Why so long? by uq1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This shaft has been known for quite some time. Why has it taken so long to finally explore what many believe may be a significant find?

    1. Re:Why so long? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Why? Simple. Zahi Hawass wants to cash in.

      A bit of history here...Rudolph Gantenbrink and his team discovered the door some years ago. Zahi responded by rushing them out of the country and making sure that they wouldn't be able to come back.

      For years Zahi Hawass has claimed that there is "nothing" to see up the shafts, that there is no "door". Now, he's gone 180 degrees and claims there IS a door. The whole thing is a circus, and Zahi Hawass wants to be ringmaster. He also wants to lay claim to whatever is behind that door--they've completely locked Gantenbrink out of this whole procedure, hijacking what is rightfully his "claim".

    2. Re:Why so long? by ibergman · · Score: 4, Informative

      Correct.
      It's also noteworthy that the CNN article about this completely fails to acknowledge Gantenbrink's achievements and incorrectly states that the door was discovered in 1872.
      A summary of Gantenbrink's work can be found at http://www.cheops.org
      -I.

    3. Re:Why so long? by Pig+Hogger · · Score: 2
      This shaft has been known for quite some time. Why has it taken so long to finally explore what many believe may be a significant find?
      Technological limits, my dear. The lower northern shaft has been explored before, but the exploration failed because of a sharp bend which was too-much for the technology of the time (and the current one, too).
    4. Re:Why so long? by bjb · · Score: 1
      Yes, fine. Zahi Hawass, just open the door, let us see it, and if there really is something special behind the door, I hope you (and/or your government) doesn't censor or hide from us what is back there.

      I really get into watching this kind of stuff, just because it is so interesting and some of the oldest history on the planet (that we can identify). Just when I've watched some of these shows in the past, I feel that we're only seeing what someone wanted us to see, not "the whole story".

      Anyway, it could only be better than 15 years ago watching Geraldo Rivera opening Al Capone's vault. Interesting as heck watching the show, if anything.

      --
      Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...
  4. Re:funny by Kevin_ap · · Score: 1

    this was what I ment blah

  5. Will they find something or... by Guysdrinkingbeer · · Score: 1

    ...break into the Egyptian sewer system just like Geraldo Rivera did when he opened Al Capone's vaults and dug right into the Chicago sewer system.

    --
    Great people don't need people to complete them, great people complete other people. -- Matthew Pawlikowski.
  6. Previous attempt... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    A previous attempt to penetrate the mysterious
    shaft ended in disappointment when it was discover
    that Lara Croft's cross-section was too large to
    permit her entry into the shaft.

    1. Re: Previous attempt... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      > A previous attempt to penetrate the mysterious shaft ended in disappointment when it was discover that Lara Croft's cross-section was too large to permit her entry into the shaft.

      Yeah, but the cameraman sure got some good shots while she was stuck.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  7. Beware! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    So the robot wakes the mummy, gets cursed, and comes out of the pyramid with XP embedded in it's firmware...

  8. Re:This is wrong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They'll just find some old egyptian beer bottles.

  9. Re:Short-term memory gone? by billbaggins · · Score: 2

    Yes, but there are new developments... specifically, UserFriendly's take on the matter. Clearly this is enough for /. to post the story again...

    --
    "The best argument against democracy is a five minute chat with the average voter."
    --Winston Churchill
  10. What they'll find... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Possibly Khufu's mummy. It's not in the sarcophagus in the King's Chamber and probably never was, but if the Great Pyramid was really built as his tomb it's got to have been there somewhere. It then becomes an engineering puzzle as to how they got the mummy in there. Maybe there's a larger hidden passage we haven't located yet, or maybe he died before the pyramid was completed and it was built around the burial chamber.

    Or maybe it's the control room to the alien launch facility....

  11. Where's Geraldo? by Megane · · Score: 3, Funny

    After Al Capone's Vault, you'd think Geraldo would be a natural choice for this event.

    --
    #naabhaprzrag, #sverubfr-000, #agi-fcbafberq, negvpyr[pynff*=' negvpyr-ary-'] { qvfcynl: abar !vzcbegnag; }
  12. Blocked Shaft? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Oh my god, has taco took up cone fucking too?

  13. First UK showing... by Boss,+Pointy+Haired · · Score: 1

    Tuesday 17th, 01:00, then also at 21:00.

  14. Re:Short-term memory gone? by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 1

    Cmdr Taco's secret posting script

    s/Timothy/Cmdr Taco/gi;

  15. Re:..sepllign by Archon-X · · Score: 1

    This is /., not the Pillsbourough Chronicle Classified.

  16. I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 2

    .. with this + this with a lot of that

    1. Re:I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 1

      From the Budweiser site:
      You must be over 21 years of age to enter this site.

      My god, something is wrong here. You need to be 18 or older to get porn in the US but 21 or older to look at a site about (disgusting) beer? Makes me glad I am dutch :) *opens another can of Amstel*

    2. Re:I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. by Frank+of+Earth · · Score: 2

      Wow! Good find, I didn't see that one. All you have to do is add beer then. ;-)

    3. Re:I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. by uberdave · · Score: 1

      Except that that's just the camera. You still need to buy the desktop rover from the original post.

  17. To win this game you must kill me, John Romero! by Zakabog · · Score: 1

    I wonder if they'll find John Romero's head on a stick. They should really just type idclip and walk through the wall.

    1. Re:To win this game you must kill me, John Romero! by Jugalator · · Score: 2

      I think they're actually *forced* to do that, since I don't think they're allowed to take rocket launchers with them without a really good reason.

      --
      Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
    2. Re:To win this game you must kill me, John Romero! by dirgotronix · · Score: 1

      idclip? that is *so* doom 2. Don't you remember the days of idspispopd?

      --
      America - Home of the scapegoat, land of the Corporation
  18. Flamebait? by Mindjiver · · Score: 1

    Why is this moderated to flamebait?

    --
    I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
    1. Re:Flamebait? by Anonymous+Cowtard · · Score: 1

      Because it was dared to be said to watch the ads.

  19. The Hall of Records and wood in the Pyramid by dido · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Of course Hawass and his ilk are disdainful of this theory, but in the Sphinx, there is reportedly a hidden "hall of records" that is supposed to be under one of the shoulders of the Sphinx. According to Edgar Cayce, it was supposed to crumble away around the year 2000 and humankind's lost knowledge would be revealed. Naturally, Hawass and his ilk conducted extensive repairs of the Sphinx a year or two before Cayce's prophecy was supposed to come true, although there have been ground penetrating radar surveys that showed that there is indeed something there. Oddly enough, Mark Lehner was once upon a time associated with Cayce's estate and was a member of one of these teams led by SRI International that discovered this tantalizing evidence. What brought about his volte face so he's now 100% with the orthodox Egyptological establishment is unknown.

    But they aren't going to the Sphinx, right? They're shooting for that strange sealed door at the end of one of the shafts inside the Queen's Chamber. After Rudolf Gantenbrink discovered this mysterious door in 1993, which also had a wood fragment in front of it which Gantenbrink's robot couldn't pick up (and settle once and for all the question of when the Pyramid had been built), he was prevented from sending yet another improved robot down the shaft. Political pissing contest at the Antiquities Bureau sounded like. If they do manage to get the wood fragment, hopefully there'll be no cover up on the radiocarbon dating results. There has already been one (on the mortar used in some parts of the Pyramid, conducted in 1986) that gives a date for the building of the Pyramid about a thousand or so years before the 2500 BC date traditionally accepted by Egyptologists. Gee, so the Pyramid was supposedly built ca. 3800 to 2800 BC. In the Predynastic Period! Of course these results were universally ignored by Egyptologists as it would greatly upset the neat chronology they have for the building of the Giza monuments.

    This is what I get from reading too much Graham Hancock!

    --
    Qu'on me donne six lignes écrites de la main du plus honnête homme, j'y trouverai de quoi le faire pendre.
    1. Re:The Hall of Records and wood in the Pyramid by 5alligator · · Score: 1

      yeah, this one shows that this all bears futher examination

    2. Re:The Hall of Records and wood in the Pyramid by thogard · · Score: 2

      The tunnles underneath the Sphinx are water wells.

      You see the Sphinx is (was) a rock outcrop and something like 6000+ years ago, someone figured out that water seeps up throgh the limestone layers where the outcrops are and if you dig down, you can get to the water. The Sphinx is also about a 1/2 day outside the Khan el-Khalili which is the traditional market in what is no Ciaro. A market has been there for at least 5,000 years or even much longer. If your going to ride a cammel from anywhere in North Africa to the Ciaro market, the area near the Sphinx would be a very good place to set up your last camp before hitting the big city.

      If you look at how nomads navigate, you will find that they would often describe hills and rivers in ways that would allow them to be used as unambigous waypoints. I supect over the years, the Sphinx was fixed up a bit by the travelers until some king decided to make it a grand monument. I expect its current form is the 3 or 4th major facelift.

      Water is very importaint in that region. Egypt has plenty of water but its all underground. Denying someon water in that region used to be a crime punishable by death. All religions that came out of that area currenly have things to say about offering drinks to strangers. That would lead me to think that marking points to find water might have been the ancient equivlent of a large donation to a charity.

    3. Re: The Hall of Records and wood in the Pyramid by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      > Alternatively, it could just be bullshit.

      But the amazing thing is that all the bullshit got out before they opened the little door! At least Pandora had to open the box first.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    4. Re:The Hall of Records and wood in the Pyramid by Creepy · · Score: 2

      I vaguely remember reading that the sphinx had two or three facelifts. I think it started as a statue of Anubis, then got the face of one ruler, changed to another by another ruler, then that face was wiped out with most records and a third likeness was carved by another ruler.

      It's been too long since I've read up on egyptology, so I'm going off 15 year old recollections that I may have doctored up for Call of Cthulhu (but that, I think, was the real history).

  20. The shafts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    With a few minor exceptions, the four so-called "air shafts" of the Cheops Pyramid were constructed in accordance with one unvarying system. The shaft roof and both walls were cut from one block to form something like a stone canal. The floor was provided by a second block, effectively sealing the shaft from below. Thus, the joins connecting the upper blocks normally ran perpendicular to the floor of the shaft.

  21. Seen before... by jvl001 · · Score: 2, Funny
    All those old enough to remember Al Capone's secret stash uncovered by Geraldo Rivera live on TV will know what to expect this time around.

    I predict that behind the stone at the end of the tunnel wil be ... more stone.

    --
    /. is to journalism as graffiti is to a bathroom wall
  22. Rudolf Gantenbrink's web site (1st robot in shaft) by wherley · · Score: 2

    This looks to be the web site for Rudolf G, the finder of the shaft plug/door that will be opened. Surprisingly, he seems not to be involved in this recent live opening project...more on that here where they quote Rudolf:
    "I became aware of National Geographic plans - for the first time - through the media 6th of August 2002..."

  23. I'm afraid... by kraf · · Score: 2

    that upon opening the door some booby trap mechanism will crush the chamber behind it because the scientists didn't follow some secret sequence when approaching the door.
    Haven't they watched the Indiana Jones series ?

  24. I know exactly what they'll find. by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 1

    They'll open the door, crawl down a short tunnel and find... Elvis, sitting with Bigfoot and Jimmy Hoffa, all playing poker. Behind the bar will be the Loch Ness Monster, mixing up a Manhattan that Adolf Hitler's brain ordered. And providing the entertainment? Why, none other than the wonderous and sexy Can-Can stylings of Amelia Erhart and Mraylin Monroe.

    Sure, my spelling sucks. But my point is this: Whatever they find, it'll be something stupid. Since it's the Queen's Chamber they're so excited about, it'll probably be the world's first dildo. And oh, what an archeological find that would be.

    Honestly, I'd rather watch that crackhead Aussie bloke who likes to play with crocs.

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
    1. Re:I know exactly what they'll find. by maunleon · · Score: 1

      Or.. they will find a huge golden phallic symbol and be totally embarassed trying to work around it on live tv.

      In a way, it would be the ancients' way of giving us the finger.

    2. Re:I know exactly what they'll find. by thogard · · Score: 1

      You may be right. There several phallic symbols all over Egypt. Sometimes they are a more more explicit though.

      An ancient Egyptean story of the worlds creation involves a God amusing himself and the world (or other Gods or towns depending on the story) were the result.

      At the temple of Karnak there is a great big stone carving of a god in the act and it has caused lots of problems over the years. There were other renderings of this type but most have been destroyed in the name of decency

    3. Re: I know exactly what they'll find. by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      > Or.. they will find a huge golden phallic symbol and be totally embarassed trying to work around it on live tv. In a way, it would be the ancients' way of giving us the finger.

      'Finger'?

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  25. Re:And I suppose by oh2 · · Score: 1

    Yes! How did you know......? Aha! You are obviously in on it!

    --

    Now the world has gone to bed, Darkness won't engulf my head, I can see by infra-red, How I hate the night.

  26. I gotta get off this stuff! by cdrobbins · · Score: 1

    The space has been blocked for centuries by a chunk of limestone that has copper handles and may have been wedged into the shaft by pyramid builders after they used it as a polishing tool.

    I read that as a drunk blocking the passage, after they used him as a polishing tool. Where is my coffee, I'm going mad.

  27. Re:Short-term memory gone? by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

    User Friendly's take on it: Good.
    Break from poking Wil with a stick: Bad. :^)

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  28. Re:Short-term memory gone? by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
    "Hey, has anyone seen that movie/tv show Stargate?"

    "No." "Nah." "Nope."...

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  29. Re:this was tried by Spackler · · Score: 1, Troll

    Moderators,

    Did you all miss the joke here?
    This was cut and pasted from the same story 2 days ago (although it was moded as funny then).
    How about reading what your modding?

  30. Like a cheesy horror movie. by Nutcase · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Hey guys, look at that 4000 year old gigantic stone structure, which has what we believe to be a large room at the end of a long, bending, unaccessible shaft thats only 20cm by 20cm, and blocked by a large, tightly wedged limestone rock with brass handles in it.

    Even though it's painfully clear that people arent supposed to be opening up this heavily guarded chamber in the 4000 year old structure, and there is no real value for us in doing so, other than to satisfy our curiosity, lets send a small robot down there to pull the block out so we can send a camera in."

    I mean, sure, it /SOUNDS/ exactly like the beginning of an extremely cheesy horror movie.. but it's actually important science. At least until they open it and unleash the apocalypse. ;)

  31. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... by Reality+Master+101 · · Score: 3, Informative

    According to the UK site, there's going to be a live web cast.

    --
    Sometimes it's best to just let stupid people be stupid.
  32. More resources by maunleon · · Score: 2, Informative

    Another article, with pictures of the pyramid rover, and also some background on the Rudolf Gantenbrink controversy. He's the robotics engineer who (some argued) was left uncredited and uninvolved (not even invited to the opening?). I don't know the whole story.

    CNN blurb on this special (with video clip)

    The ananova take on the special.

    The Times (UK) take. Pretty good.

    A little on Zahi Hawass

  33. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... OT by jdcook · · Score: 3, Interesting
    "man, if I had cable, I'd LOVE to give you a divx of it. hell, I'd even mail you a copy of the cd. Why? Because it's frickin fair use! If you can't watch a show, it is within your FAIR USE to have someone to record it at a later time. My parents would always do that for me when I'd miss saturday moring cartoons to go to my sanchin ryu classes. that was fair use... that's the DEFINITION of fair use.

    Fair use isn't defined. It is a doctrine that exempts certain uses from copyright infringement. Having somebody make a recording of a broadcast and send it to Japan may or may not be fair use. You could look it up.

    OTOH, the original request post being "+5 Flamebait" just kills me. I say send that sucker.

    --
    Q:How many libertarians does it take to stop a Panzer division? A:None. Obviously market forces will take care of it.
  34. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  35. Holy Shit by espionage_7 · · Score: 1

    I have two guess of what could be in there. My first one is once they remove the stone they will find a room filed from top to bottom with PORN, nice thought isn't it!! My next guess is thats were Bin-Laden and friends are hiding from big bad ol'Bush.

  36. Re:this was tried by DaytonCIM · · Score: 2
    I remember watching the original attempt to crawl up this shaft; and when they ran into the door. The team operating the robot just about jumped out of their skin in excitement.

    One thing that kind of pisses me off about the whole
    egyptology thing, is that the egyptian government is pretty strict on who they
    let come and do work like this over there. If they don't agree with some of your
    views on the history of the pyramids, good luck getting a permit to do anything
    there. The history of the pyramids is very sketchy, and how the traditional
    egyptologists think their theories are 100% correct is very arrogant.



    Please remember that the pyramids are Egyptian, not American, not English, etc... The Egyptian government is only protecting their culture, their history. And if it seems like they're are too harsh, too strict I think you need to remember that most Egyptian artifacts and surviving mummies are in foreign museums, not Egyptian. (The majority of the world's mummies are at the British Museum).
    I think that the American government (or any nation's government) would install the same strict laws and codes to protect its people's heritage from export.
  37. carbon date mortar? by gnarled · · Score: 1

    How would carbon dating the mortar used in the pyramid tell you when it was built? Carbon dating would tell you how old the stone is that was used to make the mortar, not when that mortar was applied. If you built a house out of couple million year old stone last year, the stone would carbon date to a couple million years ago, not last year.

    --
    I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal, Clerks
  38. Re:Wait a second... live? by MsGeek · · Score: 3, Funny

    On FOX...naturally!

    --
    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  39. Any bets? by wiresquire · · Score: 1

    And so Amun appeared to wiresquire in a dream and said,'The jackal one has taken all the treasure from the shrine devoted to the Great Sun God. Anubis has given everyone the shaft. Show Amun's grateful servant's mummy being unwrapped as there is nothing to see here. Move along.'.

    --

    So does Anonymous Coward have good karma?

  40. You can't carbon date stone. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You can only carbon-date biological material.

    There would be straw in the mortar, and they would carbon date that, to get a date for when the mortar was made.

  41. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... OT by morgajel · · Score: 2, Informative

    section 107 of the copyright act designates 4 factors, two of which are important:

    2)character of use: is it non-profit or education use?
    4)effect on potential market: will this make the product less valuable?

    you're correct, these aren't laws, they're guidelines.

    Since it's entering from one market where it's given away freely(TV, commercials not withstanding), to another person(not market) where it cannot be obtained by any reasonable means, I do not see where the problem would be.
    They only way I could see a problem with this is if it was being sold or otherwise exceeded the second guideline. it would also be a violation if it was given away enmasse to the public as a whole- however, since it's available on broadcast tv, that would not affect the market there either unless they later planned on broadcasting it to the unaffected region for profit(commercials). which would make it very difficult to exceed the 4th guideline.
    btw, IANAL, I'm just an idiot trying to bring some sense to the world..

    --
    Looking for Book Reviews? Check out Literary Escapism.
  42. Re:this was tried by david+duncan+scott · · Score: 2

    Yes, whereas the European usage of mummies for medicinal and alchemical purposes was much more enlightened.

    --

    This next song is very sad. Please clap along. -- Robin Zander

  43. Re:this was tried by austad · · Score: 2

    Thanks AC for plagarizing one of my posts from the original story!

    --
    Need Free Juniper/NetScreen Support? JuniperForum
  44. Evil spirit to be relased... by deadasdisco · · Score: 1

    And an evil spirit will be released Right on time for war...

  45. Re:You're going to be very disappointed... by JohnG · · Score: 2

    Looted by ancient civilizations with robots? If WE couldn't get in there till now, what makes you think people hundreds or thousands of years ago could?

  46. That Hawass guy is full of crap by Control-Z · · Score: 1


    There was another special back in 1999 where they were opening a tomb for the first time. Never seen for thousands of years, all that stuff.

    Well, as it turned out, it was obvious that Hawass had alredy been in the tomb when the camera followed him in there. Kinda dampened my enthusiasm. He was also totally reckless with the artifacts, are there so many in Egypt that they don't bother being careful any more?

    And with Fox involved expect a good bit of tabloid documentary filmmaking, although hopefully National Geographic will temper that a bit.

    1. Re: That Hawass guy is full of crap by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2


      > He was also totally reckless with the artifacts, are there so many in Egypt that they don't bother being careful any more?

      I saw a documentary once that claimed that there were so many mummies that they used to burn them for fuel in locomotives.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  47. No one under 21 admitted by Control-Z · · Score: 1


    You also have to mail/fax them a statement stating that you're 21 to get a copy of their ANNUAL REPORT! Ooooook...

  48. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... OT by JohnG · · Score: 2

    What makes you think anyone would think otherwise? Especially if you left the commercials in like he said. I REALLY doubt that Fox would do anything to you, for the exact reasons you mentioned. I think this is more a case of you ranting to defend rights that aren't in jeopardy.

  49. Xfer files by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    "Jimmy Haffa!? How the hell did you get in here?"

    "Shuddup and help me, kid. My legs are stiff."

  50. Tourism jump start? by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    (* the egyptian government is pretty strict on who they let come and do work like this over there. If they don't agree with some of your views on the history of the pyramids, good luck getting a permit to do anything there. *)

    Aside from rewriting history, it is otherwise understandable seeing the past splunking that they have been subject to.

    Anyhow, there is some speculation that the government is allowing this right now because the terrorist attacks and their Palistine viewpoints have scared away tourists. This may be an attempt to re-spark the tourism industry.

  51. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... by ion++ · · Score: 1

    mod parent up!

  52. For UK viewers... by g_attrill · · Score: 1

    It's on The National Geographic Channel (Sky Digital/Cable only) at 0100-0300 (presumably the live show) and repeated throughout the week.

    See Digiguide for details

    Gareth

  53. Re:Very tastefull by bilbobuggins · · Score: 2
    'Welcome to Egyption Idol!
    Remember, only one statuette or figurine can win the title of number one ancient object of worship!'

    Host: Thank you Bob! Alright folks, just like the ancient mummies of the Sphinx - it's finally time to wrap this competition up!
    *ba-dum-crash!*
    Host:Thank you. And while we're at it - let's here it for those King Tut dancers! You guys have been great. You know Anubis was so upset about losing last night, he still hasn't gotten over it - I heard he's in de-Nile!
    *ba-dum-crash!*
    Thank you

    I could go on all night, but is that what you meant?

  54. Rumors of digging... by Merovign · · Score: 1

    Anyone else remember a few years back there were a couple of wackier egyptologists (but in the field, as opposed to tabloid people) claimed there was a "secret" project headed by Hawass to dig a tunnel around the King's chamber and get to the supposed "room" at the end of the shaft? Complete with photos of equipment, lights, some eyewitness testimony from people peripheral to the event.

    That's the problem with anything controversial like the pyramid. If Hawass or someone else did "get there first" before this big "expose", we can't trust what they'll "find," be it an empty room or an inflatable LGM on a lounge chair.

    I wish I knew more about that "event." Kooks and people with agendas don't only exist outside of agencies and fields of study - they exist within them and are entirely capable of "setting up" evidence for their pet theories, be it fake hieroglyphs or anything else that might be found.

    Part of the problem with the Great Pyramid is not only that it has some serious discontinuities with regard to its construction, but that it has it's own complex modern mythology that clouds the issue.

    I'm just worried that we'll have this big "expose" that won't actually do anything useful. Kind of like those Fox "UFO shows" that say "The Truth" at the beginning and "You Decide" at the end.

  55. Re:this was tried by 5alligator · · Score: 1

    5 000 BCE and 7 000 BCE. That date is before archeologists admit that homosapiens was running around on the planet.

    what the fsck are you smoking!?

  56. Re:Are they sure they can get it out again? by Aexia · · Score: 1

    That's where the second TV special comes into play! The rescue mission!

  57. Re:this was tried by MrNixon · · Score: 2, Informative


    . . . it was probably built between 5 000 BCE and 7 000 BCE. That date is before archeologists admit that homosapiens was running around on the planet.

    I don't know what archaeologists you talk to, but I'm pretty sure that we'e been on the planet longer than 9000 years.

  58. Re:But what if ... by 5alligator · · Score: 2, Funny

    so... what? you're suggesting the shaft leads to the lettuce crisper? the butter compartment? do go on - we want to know more!

  59. Re:this was tried by Mad+Quacker · · Score: 1

    "Christian archeological scientists" It's an offshoot from "Creation Science"

    --
    "I don't know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots." George HW Bush
  60. Re:funny by mo+wiggley · · Score: 1

    That is funny, and an awsome thought.
    Have we ever documented any found historical
    artifacts or places, that something was indeed
    set up with the sole intention of playing a
    little practical joke on someone in the
    distant future? The moment someone encountered
    such a situation would be like touching
    fingertips with a fellow human from thousands
    of years ago. And youd have to hope that the
    potential Grand Benevolent Being (GBB) behind
    this universe would allow the person that
    placed the joke, to witness its outcome and
    get to giggle, or have whatever reation. It
    would be a shame to set something like this
    up, and then not witness the fruits of your
    labor. But the spirit of the joke being
    transfered back into the human race again
    would be awsome enough of a feat, I think.
    But if I was the GBB behind this awsome
    universe, I would let the guy watch his
    joke get played out to completion, If not
    from the physical realm, at least from a nice
    perch just the other side of this vibrational
    range of being. Do unto others you know.

    --
    Libranet GNU/Linux - Excellent Debian Based Distro http://www.libranet.com Check it out!
  61. Re:this was tried by dacarr · · Score: 1
    No it's not sketchy! Everyone knows that the pyramids are the work of the freemasons and extra-terrestrials!

    I know it's true because I read it on the Internet right here! That, and Art Bell says it's true! It's all part of a conspiracy!

    And we all know that because it's on the 'net it has to be true, right? =)

    --
    This sig no verb.
  62. Remember Al Capone? by WiggyWack · · Score: 1

    Let's hope this is more exciting than when Geraldo unlocked the "secrets" of Al Capone's hidden vault live on TV. *yawn*

    (here's the secret: there's nothing there)

    --
    Macintosh humor! MacComedy.com
  63. Re:Wait a second... live? by WiggyWack · · Score: 1

    It's live at 8 p.m. ET. The PT version is taped.

    --
    Macintosh humor! MacComedy.com
  64. Wow! This might be as exciting as.... by CommieLib · · Score: 2

    The opening of Al Capone's vault!

    --
    If your bitterest enemies are people who hack the heads off civilians, then I would say you're doing something right.
    1. Re:Wow! This might be as exciting as.... by NeuroManson · · Score: 2

      "I KNEW IT! Road Maps!!!"

      Weird Al- UHF

      --
      Just because you can mod me down, doesn't mean you're right. Shoes for industry!
  65. They must be cellphone users ... by vlad_petric · · Score: 2


    Do Cell Phones Make Us Stupid?

    --

    The Raven

  66. Titannic Purser's Safe. by rapidweather · · Score: 1

    I'll bet you have the Opening of the Titannic Safe with Telle Savalas in your video library, too.

  67. Re:Wait a second... live? by Some+Dumbass... · · Score: 2

    The only way I know to air a show at 8pm Eastern and Pacific is to have it recorded! So now, is it live? Or is it recorded?

    Isn't 8pm EST 4am in Egypt? Gawd, I hope for the archaeologists' sake that it's recorded. Let 'em sleep in for crying out loud!

  68. Re:I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. QWZX by The_dev0 · · Score: 1
    the literally hundreds of quality micro-brews in the US that are better than ANYTHING in the rest of the world

    So, been to Mexico, have you?

    --
    Never fight naked, unless you're in prison...
  69. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Ratings by blair1q · · Score: 2

    Gimme a slice. This will either suck, rock, or bore. No, it will bore and suck for 58 minutes, then be exciting for 10 seconds, then it will be over. Then AC Neilsen will count the suckers and collect.

  70. Re:Wait a second... live? by firegate · · Score: 1

    it's being aired live at 2am EST, and then a recorded version will be aired at 8pm..

    --
    "Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better idiot."
  71. Re:Wait a second... live? by LoztInSpace · · Score: 1

    You really wouln't want to be out there working in the full heat believe me. It's probably a good idea!

  72. How do they move that block with that robot? by Animats · · Score: 2

    There are pictures of the block, and pictures of the robot. The robot doesn't look powerful enough to move that block. How is this done?

  73. Re:Wait a second... live? by Some+Dumbass... · · Score: 2

    You really wouln't want to be out there working in the full heat believe me. It's probably a good idea!

    That does make sense, though I don't know how hot it is inside the pyramid (where I assume the hidden chamber is). I tend to think of the inside of large stone structures as being cool. I don't know about pyramids, though.

  74. An Apology - OT by wirefarm · · Score: 2

    I seem to have unleashed a firestorm by asking for a copy of this program in an obviously evil format such as DivX.

    Sorry, my bad.

    Could one of you who knows me mail me a tape then?

    Cheers,
    Jim

    (I hear it will be webcast, but can you imagine trying to actually watch one of those for something shot in such low light? It would look like a cubist art video...)

    --
    -- My Weblog.
  75. This is VERY misleading by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    >A bit of history here...Rudolph Gantenbrink
    >and his team discovered the door some years
    >ago. Zahi responded by rushing them out of
    >the country and making sure that they
    >wouldn't be able to come back.

    This is actually a VERY misleading statement. Gantenbrink, by way of Robert Bauval, let the word out on the findings of the 'door', whereas it is standard procedure for *everyone* who is doing research there to go thru the Council of Antiquities FIRST.

    That Bauval was associated somehow with it is probably what tipped the balance (for fairness, you can read Bauval's account of the events in Secret Chamber by RB, chapter 9 I believe). The combination of having an "alternative" historian (that means one who cherry picks his 'evidences') together with the the breaking of the rules relating to announcement of discoveries is a big no no for egyptology, simply because these things get out of control, in terms of wild and completely unfounded speculation, REALLY quickly.

    Many might not realize this, but there is a huge *industry* revolving around the "mysteries" of ancient egypt, where authors who know very little of (or chose to ignore) the HUGE coherent picture that egyptology is, ignoring montains of evidence supporting it and countless others that go against their own "brilliant" speculation, end up transforming a culture into a "legacy", heavily hinting at mythical places such as Atlantis (a spurious story already of which ONLY plato talks about, and in terms heavily metaphorical), and often sliping into concepts like "noble or higher race" and the like.

    The world of "alternative egyptology" is fascinating at first glance, but is roten from the inside, trust me on this.

    Another point is that the "door" hardly is a door, as it is located in a shaft that is 8x8 inches, unless someone has a book to write about little beings using this shaft as a corridor for their daily affairs (I suspect this would easily be linked to our alledged martian legacy in a sleight of hand). The two "handles" could be many things, but even if they are handle, that doesn't make the thing a door, it just makes it a plug, with handles.

    The third thing i'd like to mention is the latent hatred of that "alternative research" community toward people like Zahi Hawass, who has, despite these people crave to dig everywhere, been dedicated to protecting and researching the Giza site for many decades. Granted Zahi has a big mouth, granted he doesn't know how to talk to journalists, but his dedication and honnesty are obvious to anybody who looks into the field (and no, reading Graham Hancock's 'work' does not qualify). Mark Lehner is in a somewhat similar yet different position, since as an ex-Cayce believer, he began his career with the goal of finding things like the "Hall of Records" (his academic training was financed by ARE, the Cayce fundation). Having learned a lot since his debuts, and having grown up, he is now bashed by his old buddies for being honnest. (don't you find it strange for instance that RB's "orion correlation theory" used to 'lock' giza to 10500BC, just as Cayce 'predicted' ? Thorough examination shows there is no such lock to such an epoch to be found, and the OCT has now been reduced to a "astetically pleasing representation" that lacks any form of precision, and hence any predictive power, rendering 10.5kBC completely and utterly arbitrary)

    The way I see it, "alternadoxy" is jumping to the gun on this, let's just wait and see what they find, if they indeed find anything, because whatever is or isn't there, it'll be one hell of a special.

    The alledged hijacking of Rudolf Gantenbrink's work is a straw man, Gantenbrink is refered to in all the papers you will find in academia relating to the exploration of the shafts. The nature of research dictates that one researcher follows another on a site, research is not for personal glory, it's about uncovering the truth. That Gantenbrink isn't always mentioned in the press is not the big deal that "alternadoxy" makes of it, after all, Dyxon isn't either and probed the shafts many decades before Gantenbrink (in his probings, he did find that the southern queen's chamber shaft seemed to be blocked at the height we know of today as the location of the plug). Also Gantenbrink has been associated with this special, if only in providing his experience to the i-robot team.

    As for "why so long?", well the pyramids aren't going anywhere, these things always take time, specifically because we do NOT want to rush in. I think the REAL question to ask is :

    Why NOW ?

    Well, think about it, it'll probably boost egyptian tourism by solving a mini-mystery. That tourism took a big blow after 9/11.

    Now THAT qualifies as very good reason to be doing this now rather than later.

    1. Re:This is VERY misleading by AyeRoxor! · · Score: 1

      " but is roten from the inside"

      what the fuck?

      let me see if I can g'sparfle a new word too.

      Cool! That *is* fun!

  76. Re:this was tried by thogard · · Score: 1

    Thats another story but if you look at the old big stone buildings, you can't find any with the characteristic angles. Egypt has a 5.5K year history of not finishing buildings. Why would the pyramids be any different? I don't think all the casing stones were ever put on the pyraminds.

  77. moder times... by phorm · · Score: 1

    and will also open the oldest intact sarcophagus found in moder times."

    And after the moderators read some of the various comments on the article, they'll be enjoying 'moder' times too...

    Moderation, we don't need no stinking moderation! - phorm

  78. Re:this was tried by melee · · Score: 1

    The majority of the world's (Egyptian) mummies are in the ground. Late (read: Roman) Egypt generated so many darn mummies that even the Brits wouldn't be able to cart them off.

    Not that they didn't take most of the noteworthy ones.

  79. Re:I think I'll explore that gopher hole.. QWZX by thogard · · Score: 1

    How OT can we go?

    Egypt has a "Stella" plant. They sell "Stella Export" which is what the tourist drink at 10x the cost of the non-export beer. This was founded by the same people that started Stella-Artois but I expect is a completely seperate group now.

    So if your at one of these bars that calim to have too many beers from around the world, ask for "Egyptian Stella"

  80. Re:this was tried by CaptainCarrot · · Score: 3, Interesting
    You're confusing your pseudoscientific theories. The erosion patterns aren't on the pyramids, which don't exhibit any to speak of that you wouldn't expect to find on a 5,000 year old monument in the desert that's been repeatedly vandalized over the millennia, but on the Sphinx. I'm not enough of a geologist to offer a genuine opinion either way, but it seems that most geologists don't agree the weathering on the Sphinx was caused by water. Of course, most of them haven't examined it firsthand either.

    Which may be neither here nor there anyway; the Sphinx was carved out of, and in part built on top of, a natural rock outcropping which is itself certainly older than human civilization. We shouldn't be too surprised to see weathering on it inconsitent with the time when it became the Sphinx instead of "that rock over there."

    --
    And the brethren went away edified.
  81. Re:this was tried by JoeBlows · · Score: 1

    most of the contraversy has revolved around the sphinx. the erosion on the sides is water erosion, not wind erosion. that would date the sphinx to 10,000 years when the sahara was still a lush forest.

    --
    True capitalism = lots of similar companies = jobs for everyone who wants one.
  82. Re:Very tastefull by JoeBlows · · Score: 1

    remember the last one they did. the lady crushed part of a skeleton!!!

    --
    True capitalism = lots of similar companies = jobs for everyone who wants one.
  83. Re:Best site for info on this... by legerde · · Score: 1

    Thank you to whomever reposted my comment from the previous story... I didnt notice this "re-posting" and didnt have a chance to get the petition link and the Gattenbrink link added....

    Anonymous Coward, I thank you...

  84. We all know what is at the end of that tunnel... by CONTROL_ALT_F4 · · Score: 1

    King Khufu's secret pr0n collection!
    He was hiding it from his mummy..

    (Ducking tomatoes)

  85. How many times are you going to post that? by devphil · · Score: 2


    You know, I thought I had read these same words before, on the last /. story about this two days ago.

    But I guess if the "editors" (who do no editing) are allowed to repost their own stories and call it news, a post author is allowed to copy and paste his own text from two days previous and get more karma for it all over again. :-) It works out.

    --
    You cannot apply a technological solution to a sociological problem. (Edwards' Law)
  86. Re:Very tastefull by Omestes · · Score: 1

    My favorite "mass egyptology" moment was some expose by Mauri Povich, he had an exclusive where he could go delving in a "previously unopened" tomb with a full camera crew.

    He then ran around with a rock hammer bashing things and finding "previously endiscovered" treasures. My favorite moment was when he ripped open the ancient tomb and patted the ten thousand year old corpse on the stomach, and refered to it as "guy".

    I swear I'm not making it up.

    Americans shouldn't be allowed to leave the country...

    --
    A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
  87. Previous Story/Comments.. by legerde · · Score: 1

    I commented on this a few days ago: Here is a link, and an addition:

    http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3985 8& cid=4252532
    -----------
    Ohh... Art Bell has a guy on tonight "Christopher Dunn" Who predicts whats going to be behind the door..

    His prediction is at:
    http://www.gizapower.com/articles/door.html

    Everyone has a theory... Can't wait till tonight..

    Like in basketball, you have to call your shot.

  88. Re:Short-term memory gone? by packeteer · · Score: 2

    just like any godo slashdotter i should be all over the previous article copy/pasting away all the +4/+5 comments to this new one to boost my karma... unfortunatly i hit the cap so im not going to waste my time formatting... just go to this link and see all the insightful goodness of the past article...

    --
    unzip; strip; touch; finger; mount; fsck; more; yes; unmount; sleep
  89. What they'll find inside by jonerik · · Score: 2

    I'm betting that the robot is going to see the inside of a place where teenagers have been partying for years; a mildewed matress in the corner, empty beer bottles and cans all over the place, and graffiti on the walls; stuff like "JUDAS PRIEST RULEZ," "VENOM," and "CLASS OF '86."

  90. other ways? by tomzyk · · Score: 1

    Aren't there other ways of finding out if there is actually another room beyond the doorway or not? Can't they like... ultrasound the pyramid or x-ray it or something to at least see if it's solid stone or an actual room?

    --
    Karma: NaN
  91. Re:this was tried by Pflipp · · Score: 1

    The reason the Egyptian government is wary about letting any old Tom or Dick go digging about is because of the very long history of looting by nearly everyone who's come into contact with ancient treasures over the centuries -- the west being especially guilty of such things.

    As long as they bring back the Amulet of Yendor, it's fine with me ;-)

    You see a large box here. Loot it? (y/n) _

    --
    "We can confirm that Debian does *not* ship the version with the trojan horse. Our version predates it." [CA-2002-28]
  92. Re:this was tried by DaytonCIM · · Score: 2

    I stand corrected.

    The majority of "above-ground" mummies are in the British Museum.

  93. Comic by DaytonCIM · · Score: 2

    Great comic about this story, here.

  94. Re:Very tastefull by jmccay · · Score: 2

    I wished the open up the chamber between the the two paws on the Sphinx--even if it's just a pin whole with a fiber cable and camera setup to look in it.

    --
    At the next eco-hypocrisy-meeting, count the private jets used to get to the meeting. Should be interesting to see that
  95. they will probably be bombed by Pitty · · Score: 1

    well,since there are so many kinds of terrorisms on this planet, our "dear little Bush" might send some bombs to Eygpt and explode those " terrorists"(mummies) since those mummuies would crawl out of their graves and go help Laden.( That's just what Bush is thinking)

  96. Ah, the great vowel shortage of 2032 B.C. by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 1

    the group will open for the first time the sealed sarcophagus of a man identified by hieroglyphics as Ny Swt Wsrt

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.
  97. It would be really creepy if they found.. by pepperino · · Score: 1

    a mummified cat. I mean supposedly they worshipped or at least thought very highly of felines, and what else would need a door tucked way inside a little shaft?

    And those white seals looked suspiciously like a pair of little pawprints..

  98. A Door!!! by SiMac · · Score: 1

    And what did they find!?

    ***GASP***

    ANOTHER DOOR!
    Who would've thought.

  99. Can anybody who watched Fox on Monday describe by WetCat · · Score: 1

    here what did they find?

    1. Re:Can anybody who watched Fox on Monday describe by Angry+Toad · · Score: 2

      A space of several inches, then what appears to be another door. I say door rather than wall, as the sides of the shaft are pretty obvious going in past the new door. Didn't look very much like the old door, however. The old door was white, and had two metallic attachments. The new "door" is grey, cracked, and has no attachments. Nothing much visible on the floor either. Just dust.

  100. Re:this was tried by Pentagon13 · · Score: 1
    The new robot has a fiber optic camera, and some kind of device which will allow it to see through up to 3 feet of rock.

    I just finished watching the show and it turns out the device was merely a 3/4 inch hole drilled by the robot! ;) And for the record, it was more like 3 inches of rock, not 3 feet.

  101. Accent... by rubicon7 · · Score: 1

    Man, I love the way british chicks say "shaft."

    --
    --- We are not in the 8th dimension. We are over New Jersey.
  102. It was a bust! by eclectro · · Score: 1


    The pyramid builder's spirits right now are having a good laugh. It's the "We will put another door right after the first so we can fool everybody on live TV!!"

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
    1. Re:It was a bust! by DennyK · · Score: 2

      Don't be silly. It's not a bust. It was all arranged with the original builders (you know, those alien dudes) so that Fox could air a sequel! In fact, the entire shaft is filled with little stone plugs every few feet, with some cheesy artifacts and heiroglyphics here and there to keep audiences tuned in. Proceeds from the advertising will help fund the alien's continuing integration into our society.

      Rumor has it that there may be some nasty traps inside the shaft also, so that in case the series doesn't work out, Fox will have plenty of footage for a few When Pyramids Attack! specials... ;-D

      DennyK

  103. Re:this was tried by Tekgno · · Score: 1

    Wow, two oxymorons in one post, does that make it
    oxyoxymoron or just moron?

  104. Re:Wait a second... live? by Rich0 · · Score: 1

    Haven't you read - we can broadcast programs faster than light now...

  105. Good point by 0x0d0a · · Score: 2

    How would we feel if tons of Egyptians came over and took over the study of American Indian stuff and kept looting treasure from burial mounds? Even if the occasional farmer had shredded a mound with his tractor, we wouldn't say that America had lost its right to the mounds.

  106. If only Monty Hall were here... by Creepy · · Score: 2

    And behind door #1...

    is door #2!

  107. Re:This is wrong. by JSC · · Score: 1

    No, no, no!!! If you want to find out what's behind Door Number 2, you HAVE TO have Monty Hall as the host!

    --
    Time's fun when you're having flies. - Kermit the Frog
  108. Re:If someone's planning on making a DivX... by JFMulder · · Score: 2

    Score 5, Flamebait?!?!
    Can't.... compute....
    core dumped

  109. Re:You're going to be very disappointed... by swdunlop · · Score: 1

    There's a lot that can be done with a stick and a hook.. Looters aren't particlarly interested in seeing things undisturbed.

  110. Re:You're going to be very disappointed... by JohnG · · Score: 2

    The door was 200 feet into the chamber, that is a REALLY long stick being wielded by someone with REALLY good low light eyesight. It was also 3.5" of solid stone, so it would have to be a pretty strong stick as well.

  111. Just for the record... by wiresquire · · Score: 1

    I was right - the shaft from the Q's chamber was a dud, and good o'le Zahi went bolting off to show a few bones.

    --

    So does Anonymous Coward have good karma?