An Extract from the Journals of Dr James Grieve
Archeological Season 1923-1924
Noqdi, Persia
Noqdi. Wednesday, 17th January 1924
The argument continues. I am desperate to try our fortune at the Sumerian gold mines of Havilah, but the Professor insists that we complete this fruitless dig. Exasperated, we tossed the golden sovereign and as it tumbled into the dust of the ground I called ‘tails’, but instead of St. George, I was looking at King George’s head.
Noqdi. Thursday, 18th January 1924
It took Hiddekel’s strongest men an eternity to excavate the massive fossilized tree, beneath which was created a rough tomb. Three sets of remains were discovered at this stratum below the barren desert and the earlier deposits from a lush vegetation, rich in exotic fruits. A human male was the first to be uncovered, besides which lay the remains of a human female, both ancient skeletons being complete with the minor exception of one rib missing from the man. Without doubt the cause of each death was a tremendous fall from a great height. Not a single artifact was to be found but close to the woman lay the skeleton of a large serpent, genus unknown.
So still the only gold in the God-forsaken wilderness is the Professor’s traitorous sovereign. It is beyond understanding. Last year Carnarvon and Carter achieved the archaeological zenith that is Tut-ankh-Amen. Our nadir is a petrified tree and a couple of worthless, unidentifiable snake eaters, of who knows what genesis?