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Excavating a Masterpiece
   
George Reisner described the dramatic discovery of a royal statue in his excavation diary:

January 18, 1910
(diary p. 10)

Work begun on mud debris in northwest forecourt (or outer court). By evening a number of rooms cleared -- many broken pots, a small alabaster jar, a number of flint chips, -- all old empire. Also the hand of an alabaster statuette. Two parties of visitors. In the evening, just before work stopped a small boy from the gang at thieves' hole in strip 1 appeared suddenly at my side and said, "come."Forward

 
  Menkaure's Valley Temple: the tops of the heads of the statue just visible (see arrows); Jan. 20, 1910.
    
  The statue partially cleared: Jan. 19, 1910.
   
 

The statue completely cleared: Jan. 19, 1910.