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By KERRY BURNS
The Portland Examiner

PORTLAND OREGON - Scientists are baffled how an ancient castle site could have gone undiscovered beneath a modern shopping mall, but in Portland Oregon just such a discovery was made during a remodeling project for an expansion of the Jantzen Beach Super Center.

"We're all excited beyond belief," said Vera Katz, Portland Mayor, who visited the site to view the excavation work in progress. "Even more amazing than the fact that it's here is the fact that no one has discovered it before now."

So far the excavation crew has tunneled through rubble to reveal a series of passages leading to a dungeon and some storage rooms.

Project manager Randolph Wiggams conjecturing on the size of the site, said, "We think, from what we've seen this far, that the castle is quite large. The architectural elements in these few rooms we've explored so far indicate that the subsurface rooms must be quite large, perhaps even huge."

Excavation crewmember Carl Simpson also revealed, "we've discovered some pretty amazing artifacts that appear to be from around the 12th Century. Except that they are covered with about an inch of dust, they are in perfect condition. Some of them are unlike anything we've ever seen before and we are still trying to figure out their purpose."

Not every resident of the area is happy with the discovery. Some are worried about rumors circulating about the castle. Ms. Kelly Flanders, a nearby resident shared that she heard that "a couple of the crew got sick and had to be taken to the hospital after opening a strange box containing some kind of black powder. Most folks around here think it's like the Temple of Doom in that movie."

Personnel from Legacy Emanuel Hospital who requested that they remain anonymous confirmed that two people from the dig were admitted to the hospital, but could not discuss details of their injuries except to say that they were very unusual.

Wiggams, downplayed the rumors, saying that "everything is going well and not to worry about the rumors. Although the work is dirty, it is progressing quickly because of the large number of volunteers who want to be involved in this project. We hope to have enough areas cleared to begin conducting public tours beginning in October."

"That would be a mistake," said Ms. Flanders. "I know I speak for all my neighbors when I say that they will regret opening this sealed tomb. Since they opened the doorway, we have felt the darkness issuing from it. Even our pets won't go outside any more. Nothing good will come from this discovery."

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