“I see wondrous things”: thrones, chariots, and THIS death mask… the treasury unveiled from King Tut’s tomb 100 years ago this week
- 100 years ago this week, Lord Carnarvon was rewarded with a great discovery
- For 3,000 years the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun, the “boy king”, was hidden
- He came to the throne at the age of 8 and reigned for ten years before he died in 1323 BC. died at the age of 19
- Over 5,000 items have been recovered from his tomb and excavations continue to this day
Patience is a virtue – but it must have waned at Highclere Castle in the summer of 1922 when Lord Carnarvon considered allowing Howard Carter a final season of excavation work in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.
He had already spent £5-6million of today’s money and was disappointed that his investment showed so little return. But he rolled again – and 100 years ago this week, he was rewarded with what is arguably the greatest archaeological discovery of all time.
Carter and his team were examining a range of rocks in front of the tomb of Ramses VI when a young waterman stumbled over what turned out to be the top covered stairway. After partially excavating the steps, they came upon a door with oval seals and hieroglyphs.
This was just the beginning of what was to come. At this point, most of us would have unearthed – or smashed in – the door to see what it hid, but Carter faithfully yielded to his patron.
100 years ago this week, Lord Carnarvon was rewarded with a magnificent discovery – wonderful, priceless and hidden for 3,000 years, ultimately including King Tutankhamen’s sarcophagus
British archaeologist Howard Carter (1874-1939) at Tutankhamun’s tomb, March 1, 1923
“I have finally made a wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; reupholstered upon arrival; Congratulations,’ he reported in a telegram.
Lord Carnarvon and his daughter Evelyn left Highclere at once and arrived at Luxor on 23 November. The next day, in the presence of the Carnarvons, Carter knocked an opening in the corner of a second door deeper underground, allowing him to peer inside by candlelight. ‘Can you see anything?’ Carnarvon asked him.
“Yes – wonderful things!” said Carter.
Wonderful, priceless, and hidden for 3,000 years, including ultimately the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen – “the young king” who came to the throne at the age of eight or nine and ruled for a decade before prematurely declining at the age of 19 died. in 1323 BC after which he was mummified and buried in a tomb filled with artwork, jewelry, and other treasures.
Egyptologist Howard Carter observes porters carrying a throne from King Tutankhamen’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt
Sarcophagus containing the golden coffin of Pharaoh Tutankhamen (r. 1333–1323 BC), in which his mummy was kept. From the Cairo Museum, Egypt
The Chron correspondent Arthur Weigall was present when the tomb was opened and saw Lord Carnarvon enter.
Over the next few weeks, now in the presence of eager Egyptian authorities, the full extent of the discovery was revealed: an antechamber of thrones, alabaster vases, musical instruments, and dismantled chariots; the treasury containing King Tut’s internal organs and 34 miniature statues of Tut; an outhouse used to store weapons and household goods; and the burial chamber with the king’s gold tomb.
Ultimately, more than 5,000 items were recovered – and the excavation work continues to this day. For Lord Carnarvon – who died of an infected mosquito bite just five months later – it was a triumph after a lifelong interest in Egypt; and for Carter, a reward as an archaeologist in the country where he had worked since he was 17.