Archaeologists to raise ancient Egyptian ship
– Thu Jun 23, 2:58 pm ET
CAIRO (AFP) – Egyptian and Japanese archaeologists on Thursday began to unearth an ancient boat belonging to King Khufu and buried near the Giza pyramids for more than 4,500 years.
A mission from Japan's Waseda University, the Japanese Institute of the Solar Boat and Egypt's antiquities ministry have been preparing to lift the boat from its underground pit for the past two years.
The project is "one of the most important" archaeological projects, antiquities minister of state Zahi Hawass told reporters at the site.
It is one of two boats belonging to King Khufu, or Cheops, a fourth dynasty ruler who built the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Solar boats were buried with the Pharaohs in the belief that they would carry them to the afterlife.
More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110623/sc_afp/egyptarchaeologyjapan_20110623185809