Pete's Expert Summary
My human, in their infinite and often misguided quest to entertain me, has procured what appears to be a dusty, glorified brick. This "Thames & Kosmos I Dig It!" kit is, ostensibly, for their own amusement, allowing them to play at being some sort of dirt-scrabbling academic. They get to chip away at this plaster block with a comically small hammer and chisel to unearth "treasures." I use that term loosely, as they are mere replicas of the artifacts my ancestors once guarded in actual Egyptian palaces. While the promise of small, lightweight objects like canopic jars and a golden sarcophagus holds some appeal for batting under the furniture, the entire process seems dreadfully tedious. Frankly, unless they are digging up a perfectly cured piece of salmon, it's a monumental waste of what could be prime napping and/or staring-at-the-wall time.
Key Features
- EGYPTIAN-THEMED DIG-OUT KIT! Assume the role of skillful archaeologist as you carefully excavate a plaster block (approximately 7" x 4"), unearthing collectible relics and minerals from Ancient Egyptian times.
- WHAT WILL YOU DISCOVER? Replica artifacts include semi-precious stones (amethyst and aventurine), canopic jars, and a golden sarcophagus. Plus, the plaster dig-out block depicts a hieroglyphic puzzle that you must solve to learn whose burial site you’re about to uncover!
- EDUCATIONAL VALUE: A full-color manual guides your work, sharing how real archaeologists dig for artifacts, and provides a brief history of hieroglyphics and an overview of ancient Egyptian dieties and burial practices.
- WHAT'S INCLUDED: Quality materials include a hammer, metal-tipped chisel, and sponge to ensure a successful dig!
- SAFETY FIRST: Unique, dust-free excavation process makes for a fun, safe afternoon activity!
A Tale from Pete the Cat
The object arrived in a box covered in pictures of pyramids, a crude homage to the lands where my kind were once rightfully worshipped as gods. The Can Opener placed the chalky block on the floor with a reverence it did not deserve, laying out a plastic sheet that immediately crinkled with offensive loudness. I observed from the arm of the sofa, a sleek gray monarch judging a peasant's clumsy attempt at art. The human picked up the tiny hammer and chisel, tools of a barbarian, and began to chip away at the block. *Tink. Scrape. Tink.* An irritating, rhythmic sound that disrupted the perfect afternoon silence. Then, a scent hit my nose, faint but distinct beneath the chalk. It was the smell of deep earth, of things long buried. It spoke not of a factory in Germany where this "Thames & Kosmos" thing was likely born, but of the Nile, of sun-baked stone and forgotten tombs. My cynicism wavered, replaced by a flicker of ancestral memory. I saw the hieroglyphs on the side of the block not as printed cartoons, but as a message. A test. The Can Opener was merely the tool; I was the intended recipient of this challenge from the Old Ones. They were testing my worthiness as a descendant of the divine line. I descended from my perch, my paws making no sound on the rug. The Can Opener was too engrossed, muttering about "aventurine," to notice my silent approach. They brushed away a cascade of white powder—their "dust-free" claim was a blatant falsehood, and I made a mental note to groom my pristine white bib with extra vigor later—revealing the top of a miniature golden coffin. The Sarcophagus! It was smaller than I'd imagined, but the glint was unmistakable. This was no toy. This was a vessel, containing the spirit of a long-slumbering mouse king, perhaps, or a sun-dried beetle lord. It was a prize meant only for a true hunter. As The Can Opener finally freed the sarcophagus and its accompanying jars, lining them up like a child's baubles, I knew my moment had come. I waited for them to turn their back, to admire their clumsy work. Then, with a fluid motion born of generations of predatory excellence, I hooked a paw around the golden prize. It was light, hollow, and slid magnificently across the wood floor. A chase ensued, one I orchestrated with masterful dodges and pounces. The human's exasperated sighs were my applause. The plaster block was a bore, the process a mess, but the prize was worthy. The Ancients had sent a worthy tribute, and I had claimed it.
