Are the Giza pyramid and the "Great Pyramid" (made by Khufu) the same pyramid?

Actually, there are three pyramids at Giza. All were built as royal tombs for 4^th-Dynasty (2613-2500 B.C.) kings: the first for Khufu, the second for Khufu's son Khafre, and the third for Khufu's grandson Menkaure. Khufu's was not only the oldest, it was also the largest. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, Khufu's is often referred to as the Great Pyramid. Originally 481 feet high (today it measures 451), it included 2.3 million limestone blocks, weighing on average 2.5 tons each. The largest blocks weigh 15 tons. To learn more about all three pyramids, go to: www.guardians.net/hawass/

How long did it take to build the Great Pyramid?

Twenty years - according to Greek historian Herodotus. In his description, written some 2,400 years ago, of the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza, Herodotus noted that 100,000 men labored for 20 years to complete the structure, the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that still stands today. Archaeologists have questioned this figure, and some believe the number of workers may have been as low as 20,000. Still, it was quite a feat. The Great Pyramid was built of 2.3 million stone blocks that had to be cut and transported to the area. The blocks weight, on an average 2.5 tons each - the largest weighted 15 tons. To learn more about the pyramids, check out Mark Lehner's book, The Complete Pyramids, and David Macaulay's Pyramid.

Where is Mohenjo-Daro? What was it?

Mohenjo-Daro - the name means "Place of the Dead" - is the site of an ancient city in northwest India. In 1922, an Indian archaeologist was investigating a 2,000-year-old Buddhist shrine in the area and found some stone seals with carvings of animals and an unknown form of writing. Excavation revealed the ruins of a vast city more than one mile square. Seals found in the area suggest that the city dates back to 2300 B.C., 1,000 years earlier than any other known city in India.

What is the Three Gorges Dam, and why are archaeologists concerned about it?

The area known as the Three Gorges is the most famous section of the Yangzi River, one of the most dangerous waterways on earth. It consists of three steep, deep, narrow passes or gorges in the high mountains of western China. Through the years, many people have been killed when the river has overflowed its banks. The reason for building the dam is to "tame" the wild Yangzi and make it safe for those living and farming on lands near the river. Construction of the dam, however, will shift large amounts of water, some of which will flood surrounding areas, including hundreds of historical sites. Since 1994, 1,200 Chinese archaeologists having been working almost non-stop to record and preserve as many sites, buildings, and artifacts as possible.

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