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MUFONET-BBS NETWORK - MUTUAL UFO NETWORK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS - WIRE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ кФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП Г=START= XMT: 16:12 Tue Oct 22 EXP: 16:00 Wed Oct 23 Г Г Г ГSPHINX-RELATED DISCOVERY COULD REWRITE HISTORY, SCIENTISTS Г ГSAY Г Г Г ГSAN DIEGO (OCT. 22) UPI - Signs of ancient rainstorms Г Гindicate Egypt's Great Sphinx may be as much as 4,000 years Г Гolder than currently believed - a discovery that could Г Гrewrite the history of civilization, a group of scientists Г Гsaid Tuesday. Г Г Г ГThe giant stone figure with the body of a lion and the head Г Гof a man was believed to have been built around 2500 B.C., Г Гbut an examination of the rock showed signs of weathering Г Гthat led researchers to believe the Sphinx was built by a Г Гlong-vanished civilization at least 2,500 to 4,000 years Г Гearlier. Г Г Г Г''We don't know who might have made it,'' said John A. West,Г Гan independent Egyptologist who was part of the study team. Г Г''But proof that a civilization capable of creating such a Г Гsculpture existed, even as little as 2,500 years earlier Г Гthan commonly believed, is to history what the relativity Г Гtheory was to Victorian physics.'' Г Г Г ГThe research group's report was presented this week at the Г ГGeological Society of America at the group's annual meeting Г Гin San Diego. Г Г Г ГThe team visited the Sphinx outside of Cairo in April and Г Гexamined the sandstone believed to have been carved during Г Гthe reign of Pharaoh Chephren, also known as Pharaoh Khafre,Г Гwho died in 2494 B.C. Г Г Г ГThe examination revealed cracks and weathering in the rock Г Гof the type usually caused by long periods of rainfall. Г Г Г ГThe same weathering was not found on other stone structures Г Гfrom the age in the area, includiung the nearby Great Г ГPyramids. Г Г Г ГScientists believe such rains fell after the Ice Age ended, Г Гlong before Chepheren's reign. Г Г Г Г''Since 10,000 B.C., the general trend has been toward ever-Г Гincreasing aridity, culminating in the present-day Sahara,''Г Гsaid Robert M. Schoch, a Boston University geology professorГ Гand a member of the expedition. Г Г Г Г''Pharaoh Chephren evidently repaired and refurbished the Г Гweathered Sphinx around 2500 B.C., but he did not build Г Гit,'' Schoch said. Г Г Г ГIf a civilization older than the ancient Egyptians built theГ ГSphinx, there could be other relics still to be discovered Г Гbeneath the desert sand, Schoch said. Г Г Г ГSeismograph studies of the ground around the statue Г Гindicated channels cut into the sandstone bedrock. The Г Гfindings might mean the Sphnix was built on top of an Г Гancient cliff that has since filled in with sand. Г Г Г Г=END= Г