King Tut's neighbours: broken pots  'Undisturbed tomb' actually
a dynastic Co-op  The discovery of a previously unknown 'royal
tomb' containing five sarcophagi in the Valley of the Kings has
turned out to be no more than an ancient funeral parlour.   As
we reported in February, when University of Memphis researchers
first stumbled across the entrance shaft, right next to
Tutenkhamun's famous tomb, Hawass said: "Maybe they are mummies
of kings or queens or nobles, we don't know. But it's definitely
someone connected to the royal family."  In fact, the boxes were
full of bits of pottery, shrouds and other mummification
detritus.  The sealed storage jars found in the 10 metre deep
room also contained materials used in mummification. It was
thought they would hold grave goods for the supposed upscale
occupants.  The site's change in status represents a large slice
of humble pie for authorities in Egypt, who had trumpeted the
find as evidence that there are still great discoveries to be
made there. ®  Sponsored: A