The 1990 TV series was about one geologist, whose name is Schock, and his partner is named West, who is a journalist. Most scholars believe that the Sphinx surface is exfoliating at a very measurable rate, due to embedded salts in the sandstone formation that absorbs moisture from the air, causing expansion and flaking of the rock. Several attempts have been made to patch and preserve the Sphinx. Also scholars believe that the Sahara was already in existence at 13,000 B.C. and Schock is wrong implying an increase in rainfall at this time period.