Villager's Ramesses II find: what the statues are, and who gets credit

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwo broken statues of Ramesses II, found by a villager in Egypt, and the question tonight is who gets the credit.

2. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorGloria here, and the one-sentence version is simple: a man in Egypt stumbled onto what remains of two giant pharaoh statues, and no one expected it.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorStart with what was actually found. Live Science says the remains of two Ramesses II statues turned up, one wearing a double crown.

4. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe taller of the two would have stood about twenty-eight feet when whole. That is roughly a two-story house with a pharaoh's face on it.

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwenty-eight feet. And the man who found it was not a professional.

6. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe was a villager. That is what Live Science reports, and the outlet has not given us more on how he came across it.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo I have to ask the finder's fee question. Does a man who finds a statue like that get a plaque, or a sandwich?

8. 

   Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn my experience, Hank, he gets a sandwich and a form to fill out.

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhy does Ramesses II matter? Give me the background for someone who skipped history class.

10. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe was one of ancient Egypt's best-known pharaohs, and he was fond of building himself very large monuments. Modesty was not the plan.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorVery large. I covered a blizzard once where the snowman won.

12. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have watched a coup unfold from a hotel lobby. The snowman would not have lasted.

13. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWho does this affect? Is it only people who love ancient history?

14. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMostly archaeologists and Egypt's antiquities officials, who will want to study the pieces. What happens to them next has not been reported.

15. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIs there a debate here, or is everyone just delighted?

16. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe only dispute I can see is the credit.

17. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorDoes it go to the man who tripped on it, or to the experts who arrive afterward?

18. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe experts will say they would have found it eventually.

19. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorEventually is a generous word for thousands of years.

20. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhat should we watch for next?

21. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorWhether more pieces turn up nearby, and whether anyone formally credits the finder. Credit is always the slow part.

22. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo, one sentence: a villager found two giant Ramesses statues, and the experts are still figuring out what happens next.

23. 

    Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnd the fee?

24. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorRuling: plaque and sandwich. Like that coach after the onside kick at fifty-seven nothing, he asked for more and got it.

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