Tommy Franks Smashes Antiques Roadshow Record
Items Found In Shed Deemed Mesopotamian Treasures

6/28/03 - U.S. General Tommy Franks, who recently returned to the states after a successful mission in Iraq, appeared on PBS Antiques Roadshow this week to appraise a number of items he found while cleaning out his shed. According to the show's host, the items, which Franks described as "probably worthless", turned out to be Mesopotamian and Sumerian artifacts worth at least $695 billion.

"This thing looks like a rock to me," Franks declared after an ancient tablet with cuneiform writing was featured on the show. "This is almost as exciting as coming across a Barry Bonds rookie card."

Regarding an ancient statue of Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II, Franks says "I could have sworn I bought that old thing at Wal-Mart. I'm sure someone over there is kicking himself now."

An old parchment containing Hammurabi's codes was estimated to be created around 800 BC, according to the experts at Antiques Roadshow. Franks says he found that under a stack of newspapers in the garage. "I figured it was a Sunday insert and almost threw it out."

Franks hasn't decided what to do with the items, which include gilded sculptures and ancient works of Mesopotamian art. "I was thinking maybe I'll keep 'em. They look nice in the den." He heartily chuckled at the end of the show.