>Several bloggers have posted on the recent news that archaeologists have found the remains of Cambyses’s army lost in the western deserts of Egypt to a sandstorm 2,500 years ago. According to news reports, a large number of human bones as well as bronze weapons and jewelry were found in the Egyptian desert and it was believed that the bones were the remains of the legendary Persian army of Cambyses.
Andie, at Egyptology News has made the following announcement:
Thanks to Bob Partridge, editor of Ancient Egypt magazine, for forwarding an urgent announcement from the Supreme Council of Antiquities:
We need to inform you that recent reports published in newspapers, news agencies and TV news announcing that “twin brothers Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni have unearthed remains of the Persian army of Cambyses,” are unfounded and misleading. The brothers are not heading any archaeological mission in Berenike Panchrysos at the small Bahrin Oasis near Siwa Oasis. This site has been excavated since 2002 by an Italian mission led by Dr. Paulo Gallo of Turin University
The Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) has already informed the proper legal and security authorities in Egypt and are taking the necessary procedures.
We wait more news on this developing controversy.
Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary
Tags: Archaeology, Cambyses
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Dr. Claude Mariottini - Professor of Old Testament 
>For a little more on the brothers Castiglione "two top Italian archaeologists"Angelo Castiglioni: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144932/Alfredo Castiglioni: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144931/-Chuck-
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>Chuck,Thank you for these revealing links. Now I know why these "amazing archaeologists" found (or did not find)Cambyses's lost army.Claude Mariottini
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>Another link:http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showthreaded&Number=1193443By the way, Berenike Panchrysos is in SUDAN, not "at the small Bahrin Oasis near Siwa Oasis," as stated by the SCA (one would not expect such a mistake by Egyptian authorities!)
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>Dear Anonymous,Thank you for the link. Now, I need an explanation from you:Is your link trying to address the issue raised by the editor of Ancient Egypt magazine or the issue raised by the links offered in the first comment to my post?It seems to me that your link is trying to defend the twin brothers. Is this true?Claude Mariottini
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>I'm not trying to defend anyone. But it appears that Dr. Hawass is rather confused about the location of Berenike Panchryos. Yet this was the most important gold mining center of the ancient world! And the statement doesn't specify why the claim is "unfounded".It could well be that the Cambyses discovery is not a discovery at all, but I'm not convinced by a statement which doesn't say why the claim is unfounded. The Castiglioni brothers have documented their findings with a documentary. Before drawing any conclusion, I'd like to see both sides of the coin. So far I'm missing Dr. Hawass' side.Regards.
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>Dear Friend,Thank you for this clarification.Since many people do not read the comments after the post is published, I would like your permission to post your comment on another post (if I decide to write it) that will invite readers to wait before they conclude the information is false.Claude Mariottini
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>You are welcome to publish my comment. Thanks.
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>Dr. Mariottini,I read a Wikipedia entry this weekend on Cambyses II which includes a subsection on the supposed lost army of Cambyses discussed by Herodotus. Apparently there have been diverse attempts to find remains of that army. In Book VII of his History Herodotus wrote of concubines of Persian troops being transported behind them in another expedition (that of the Ten Thousand “Immortals”). I do not think that this Persian practice was limited to just that expedition, and wonder if the above jewelry might be from a woman rather than a man. Adam Stuart
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