BACKGROUND STORY
Strange events are occurring at the archaeological
excavation site of Old Cartage. The site has become
world famous for it's sensational finds, and celebrated
archaeologists from several different countries all over the
world gather here to partake in the explorations. Almost
every day you can read in the newspapers about new,
unique finds being discovered.
Since Cartage used to be an important harbour town in
the old times, the waterfront area has been especially
interesting for the archaeologists. Finds have been made
>not only of ships coming from the Mediterranean area, like
Crete, Rome and Athens, but also from the far east.
Among the finds being discovered in the remnants of the
ships are ceramic and porcelain items from ancient China,
precious jewels from Persia, amphorae from ancient
Greece and clay tables with sphenography from Assyria
and Babylon.
Since the site of Cartage has a long history of
civilisation, also more ancient discoveries have been
made. In some caves in the adjoining mountain ridge, wall
paintings made by the Cro Magnon from more than 9000
years B.C have been found - paintings that are equal in
quality to those in Lascaux and Altamira. And even older
than this, fossil remnants of dinosaurs and other
prehistoric creatures have been unearthed in some of the
deeper excavation trenches.
But the most spectacular find of all is the tomb of Pharaoh
Echnaton. Hidden in this distant location to escape the
grave plunderers that were raiding the Valley of the Kings
in Luxor, this grave has been left untouched through the
milleniums, until discovered by the young archaeologist,
Mary Kingsley. The discovery of this tomb echoed
through out the world. The finds in it widely excelled
those of the tomb of Tutanchamon, which were hitherto
considered beyond comparison.
Lately however the news from the archaeological site
have been somewhat alarming. Several people have
mysteriously disappeared from the camp. Since the first
three disappearances concerned native workers, who
vanished during night time, the alarm wasn't raised at first.
The workers, who were underpaid locals, were merely
thought to have deserted the camp, probably bringing a
few choice items from the excavation trenches with them
to sell on the black market.
But when the famous archaeologist Professor Botta
disappeared, there was a considerable hullabaloo. He was
seen entering the tomb of Echnaton, and he never came
out again. So far no trace of him has been found, except
for his spectacles, that were found laying on the floor in
the inner chamber of the tomb. Since professor Botta was
extremely nearsighted and blind as a bat without his
glasses, he could obviously not have gone far without
them.
One week later two more native workers disappeared,
this time in broad daylight. Both of them were working in
a rather deep trench near the harbour area. They were seen
climbing down into the trench, but when called to lunch
didn't appear. The trench was searched and a massive
cave-in was discovered in the far end. However, when the
earth masses had been excavated, there still was no sign of
any bodies. both workers seemed to have vanished into
thin air.
By now the newspapers had caught on to what was
happening and the archaeological camp was once more
front page news, although this time not for what was
found, but for what was missing. The tabloids speculated
widely in "The Curse Of Echnaton" and other far fetched
or superstitious theories. (Actually there WAS an
inscription with a curse on the wall of that tomb, which of
course enhanced these speculations. But what the heck -
e DO live in the twentieth century, don't we? Whoever
believes in Pharaoh’s curse in this enlightened time?)
Still, the disappearances continue... As late as yesterday
a young, female candidate disappeared in the Cro Magnon
Cave. A spirit of panic has began to spread among the
staff, and people have begun to watch each other with
suspicion. Is there a mad killer running lose in the camp?
Or IS it the curse of Echnaton after all?
Who will be next to go?
Return to Main Page
Return to PreHistoric Dimension Page