[nmckenzie]

The Buddha statues in Afghanistan had been carved into the side of a mountain, I believe during the 6th Century, and were destroyed by dynamiting and cannon fire. The UN's been making noises about rebuilding them, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. The UN had declared them to be cultural treasures (think I've got the term right) before they were blown to bits, and I'm sure they've done the same with regard to the Sphinx and Pyramids, so let's wait and see what they'll do if the Islamists in Egypt go completely bonkers and start using these ancient treasures for artillery practice.