by Anne Penny

Created on: February 03, 2009   Last Updated: February 17, 2009

"Can you see anything?" asked Lord Carnarvon.

"Yes, wonderful things."

Those now-famous words were spoken by Howard Carter in 1923, moments after he looked into a small hole made in the door into Tutankhamun's burial chamber. What Carter didn't immediately realize was that what he saw was only an antechamber and that, beyond it, were two further rooms of unimaginable treasure.

Howard Carter, whose name is forever linked to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, was an Egyptologist who worked for over 30 years in Egypt. He wasn't a trained archaeologist, but held various minor government posts; excavation was a hobby during his early years there.

Lord Carnarvon, who regularly spent the English winters in Egypt on account of his delicate health, met Howard Carter there and the two men began excavating together from 1907. Carter needed the financial backing of Lord Carnarvon in order to work as an archaeologist. They had some minor finds in their early digging seasons together.

It was generally believed that there was no further major discovery to be made in the Valley of the Kings. The area, where the ancient Pharaohs placed their tombs, had been thoroughly excavated, revealing that all burial sites had been pillaged by early grave robbers. But did something remain hidden in that hot, desolate, sandy valley? Carter was convinced of it.

In 1921, Lord Carnarvon became concerned that little was to show for the years of financial support he had given to Carter. He had decided to call off further excavation, but was persuaded by Carter to allow one more season of work to go ahead. In early November, 1922, Carter made a dramatic find; the Egyptians working with him uncovered a step! Further excavation revealed a number of steps which led to a doorway sealed against their entry.

When this door was broken through, Carter was disappointed to find piles of rubble blocking his progress; however, when the stones were cleared away, a further sealed entrance was revealed, this one, thrillingly, bearing the clear insignia of King Tutankhamun. At this point, Carter knew he had discovered the tomb he had so long sought but was it intact? Had grave robbers been there, long centuries before him?

Lord Carnarvon was back in England, so Carter sent him a cable to impart the exciting news. He then re-covered the steps and waited for 3 frustrating weeks the time it took for Lord Carnarvon to reach Egypt. Only then did the two men proceed to what Carter called, "The day of days" when the door to the antechamber of Tutankhamun's tomb was finally breached. Carter peered inside, speechless with awe as he gazed upon, "gold everywhere the glint of gold."

Some months were to pass in cataloguing and recording the contents of the antechamber, and those of another sealed room, before Carter was able, at last, to realize his heart's ambition and open and enter the sealed Burial Chamber, where King Tutankhamun had lain in dark silence for over 3000 years.

News of the discovery gripped the world, and continues to amaze us, we who now can also look upon the stupendous treasures of that ancient tomb, many of which have travelled the modern world.

Sources:

www.nationalgeographic.com

www.akhet.co .uk

Learn more about this author, Anne Penny.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.