THE SUNKEN RIVER ANTIQUITIES

In the early 1800s, a European explorer looted many artefacts from an area containing the burial mounds of ancient royalty. Among the stolen objects were a compact and well-inscribed stele, and at least one large stone carving of a winged creature. Local cargo craft were hired, and barges were built, to carry the hoard downriver for transfer onto an oceangoing vessel. The river journey took several weeks. 

During an overnight stop, one of the barges took on water, parted its mooring line, drifted away, and sank. It was impossible to recover the barge due to the strong current, depth, and lack of equipment. It was therefore abandoned.

Today, those antiquities may be underground, since the river channel periodically shifts over time. The host nation’s Foreign Minister invited Mr Egan to visit and discuss forming a joint-venture modelled after the successful 1970s US tour of the King Tut Exhibition. However, Mr Egan repeatedly postponed further development work due to that nation’s recurring civil strife.

Excellent subject for at least two documentary films, and two episodes in the AR series.