Discovering Tutankhamun's Tomb

Tutankhamun’s reign was short, and it wasn’t long after his untimely death that he was all but forgotten by the Egyptian people. His tomb (now known as KV 62) was eventually lost, covered over in debris from the excavation of other tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and ultimately workmen’s huts were built over the obscured tomb entrance.

Tutankhamun’s tomb and name were all but forgotten until the early 20th century, when objects associated with his name were turned up in the course of archaeological excavations. In 1907, excavators working for American lawyer and Valley of the Kings concession holder Theodore M. Davis discovered a small tomb that contained funerary artifacts bearing Tutankhamun’s name. Davis assumed—incorrectly, as it turned out—that this was the long-lost tomb of Tutankhamun, leading him to pronounce "I fear that the Valley of Kings is now exhausted." This “tomb” (KV 54) was in fact a cache—a small pit where items from King Tut’s funeral were stored.

Archaeologist Howard Carter was not convinced that Davis had in fact found the tomb of Tutankhamun. Carter and his excavation financier Lord Carnarvon were granted the concession for the Valley of the Kings in 1917, and began work where Davis had found objects associated with the king. Though much work was done between 1917 and 1922, there was little to show for it, and Carnarvon grew frustrated and decided to end funding for Carter’s work. Carter managed to convince Lord Carnarvon to finance one final season, and in late October, 1922, he resumed work in the Valley of the Kings.

Carter decided to focus his work on the one location not yet explored: an area below the tomb of Ramses VI covered in limestone debris and the remnants of ancient workmen’s huts. The area was quickly cleared, and on November 4, 1922, a young boy delivering water jars to the workers uncovered a limestone step cut into the bedrock.

Soon, workers had uncovered the top of a staircase similar to those found in 18th-dynasty tombs. After another day of intense work, the entire staircase and a doorway blocked with stones and plaster were excavated.

While no royal name was stamped in the plaster, it did bear the Jackal-and-Nine-Captives seal of the medjay, the royal necropolis police. There was also evidence that the tomb had been broken into and resealed, something that indicated to Carter that this was no ordinary tomb. Carter had the stairway refilled and cabled Lord Carnarvon to inform him of the find:

AT LAST HAVE MADE WONDERFUL DISCOVERY IN THE VALLEY, A MAGNIFICENT TOMB WITH SEALS INTACT; RECOVERED SAME FOR YOUR ARRIVAL; CONGRATULATIONS!

Lord Carnarvon immediately traveled from England to Egypt, and on November 24 work began again. Soon, the name of Tutankhamun was found, stamped on the lower part of the doorway. After the door was opened, workers cleared the rubble from the corridor, at the end of which was another sealed doorway.

On November 26, 1922, Lord Carnarvon, his daughter Evelyn Herbert, and architect Arthur Callendar, anxiously stood by as Howard Carter made an exploratory hole in the doorway. After letting the 3,000-year-old air vent from the chamber, Carter widened the hole and peered inside. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dark, he began to make out the treasures packed haphazardly into the room. He was, in his words, “Struck dumb with amazement. Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense, inquired “Can you see anything?” to which Carter famously replied “Yes, wonderful things.”