Chris wrote:

"It's just that finding these artefacts in the
shadow of the pyramids gives a certain kind of
extended historicity to the area, if you know
what I mean."

Yes. A fun example of this are the circular plates
from the stems of Paleozoic crinoids that are found
on prehistoric Native American sites in the Midwest
US used as beads. Since they they have a natural
hole in them and are also ornamented they made
natural beads, of which prehistoric Native Americans
took advantage.

See "Beads from fossils" at:
[www.thebeadsite.com]

and the "Harrell Site" (Texas) at:
[www.texasbeyondhistory.net]
[www.texasbeyondhistory.net]

Also, as one example discussed in "Beads from
fossils" above, Native Americans also collected
trilobites and other fossils.

Best regards,

Paul
Baton Rouge, LA