Despite the fact that almost a century has passed since Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamun, interest in the discovery of this English archaeologist has not faded. This is evidenced by the endless queues for exhibitions of exhibits from the famous tomb, periodically held in the largest museums in the world. This is not surprising, since this is the most significant find ever made in Egypt.
Howard Carter, biography of the future scientist
In 1874, in a large family of the then famous English animal painter Samuel Carter, who lived in Norfolk County, a son was born, who was given the name Howard. When the child grew up, the father did his best to give him an education at home, allowing him to take a worthy place in society. Having discovered in his son the ability to draw, Samuel tried to instill in him skills in this art.
Thanks to his father's connections in the scientific world, seventeen-year-old Howard Carter took part for the first time in an archaeological expedition to Egypt led by the leading Egyptologist of the time, Flinders Petrie. He was entrusted withthe duties of a draftsman, which allowed the young man to come into close contact with objects of bygone eras, and feel the exciting feeling of discovery. This trip was also an excellent school for the future archaeologist.
The beginning of a scientific career
From then on, Carter's life was entirely devoted to the study of antiquities hidden in the sands of the Nile Valley. Two years after his scientific debut on the Petri expedition, he becomes a member of another major project implemented by the Egyptian Archeology Foundation. These were research works carried out in the terraced funeral temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the west of Thebes. It was they who brought the young scientist the first glory.
The fame acquired by him in scientific circles, allowed Carter in 1899 to take quite a respectable place in society, becoming the inspector general of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities. A number of discoveries made by him belong to this period, among which the most famous can be called the tomb of Saint-Nef in Cournay.
He held such a high post until 1905, when he was forced to resign - according to one version as a result of a conflict with one of the influential representatives of the press, according to another, after he famously pacified the company of drunken French who made a brawl on the territory of one of the historical complexes. Having interrupted his administrative activities, archaeologist Howard Carter does not stop scientific research and is engaged in painting.
Beginning of cooperation with Lord Carnarvon
In the new, 1906, an event occurred,which largely determined the further fate of Carter and predetermined the main discovery of his life. At one of the meetings of the British Scientific Society, Howard was introduced to the amateur archaeologist and collector of antiquities, Lord Carnarvon, who became his friend and sponsor for many years.
The new friends received official permission to conduct excavations only in 1919, when the term of the concession of the former producer of scientific research in this area, T. Davis, ended. By this time, several generations of archaeologists had managed to dig in the Valley of the Maidens, and it was believed that its resources were completely exhausted. However, the arguments of the skeptics did not convince Carter. A detailed study of the valley showed that there were still enough places in it that had not been touched by scientists. These were mostly areas covered with a layer of rubble left over from previous excavations.
Carter's scientific hypotheses
Comparing the finds of previous mummies found in the Valley of the Maidens with the information that scientists had about possible burials here, Howard Carter came to the conclusion that another mummy remains in the ground, not found and, apparently, of the greatest interest for scientists. Just as an astronomer, before discovering a new star with a telescope, theoretically proves its existence on paper, so Carter, on the basis of previously accumulated knowledge, came to believe in the existence of an unknown tomb here. Simply put, before finding the tomb of Tutankhamen, Carter figured it out.
However, in order for reasoning, even the most convincing, to turn intoreally tangible results, there was a lot of work to be done, and it was carried out mainly by Carter. His companion limited himself to the general control of the ongoing excavations, and their financing. We must give him his due - without his money, as well as without Carter's energy, the world would not have seen the treasures of Tutankhamun for a long time.
Start of practice
Added complexity to scientists and the outbreak of the First World War soon. Excavations during this period, although carried out, were episodic and with long breaks. As a man liable for military service, Carter could not devote all his time to his beloved work. A great hindrance to work during the war years was created by grave robbers who stepped up their actions. Taking advantage of the fact that due to hostilities the state has weakened control over the preservation of ancient monuments, they unceremoniously hosted them, endangering the life and safety of researchers.
Only in 1917 was it possible to start cleaning the bottom of the Valley of the Virgins from layers of rubble that had accumulated here over a centuries-old period. For the excavations, they chose a site limited by three tombs: Ramses II, Ramses VI and Mernept. Over the next four years, the work, carried out with great effort and requiring many thousands of pounds, did not bring any tangible results.
Last try
The failures that have plagued archaeologists in recent years have driven Lord Carnarvon to despair. Inviting a companion to his family estate in the summer of 1922, he announced to him his intention to complete the work, which, apparently, promised nothing but expenses. Only Carter's fervent conviction was able to save Carnarvon from a cowardly act and convince him to extend the concession for another season.
At the end of October 1922, Howard Carter (a photo of that period is presented at the beginning of the article) resumed work. To completely clear the bottom of the Valley of the Maidens, it was necessary to remove the remains of the huts of workers who worked here in antiquity on the construction of the tomb of Ramses VI. Their foundations protruded from the sand over a large area. This work took several days, but as soon as it was completed, stone steps were discovered at the site of one of the buildings, going deep into the earth and, apparently, never before excavated.
Mysterious stairs
Everything indicated that before them was the entrance to some previously unknown burial place. In anticipation of good luck, they continued to work with redoubled energy. Soon, having cleared the entire upper part of the stairs, the archaeologists found themselves in front of the immured entrance to the tomb. Carter saw that the embalming gods in the form of jackals were clearly visible on the plastering of the door, as well as the bound captives, which was a sign of royal burials.
It is curious to note that in previous years, Carter was twice near this mysterious door, but both times he missed his chance. This happened for the first time when he, as part of the expedition of T. Davis, excavated here, and he, not wanting to mess with the remains of stone huts, ordered the work to be moved to another place. The next time this happened was when, five years ago, Carter himselfwanted to tear them down, as it would deprive tourists of the opportunity to take pictures at these picturesque ruins.
First joy of discovery
Once at the mysterious door with intact seals, Carter punched a small hole in it and, sticking a lantern inside, made sure that the passage was covered with a centuries-old layer of rubble and debris. This proved that the robbers were not able to visit here, and, perhaps, the tomb will appear before them in its original form.
Despite all the surging feelings - the joy of the find, the impatience to get inside and the feeling of the closeness of the discovery - Carter did what the upbringing of a true English gentleman demanded of him. Since his companion Lord Carnarvon was in England at that moment, Howard Carter did not dare to enter the tomb without someone who financed all these years of work. He ordered to fill up the entrance to the tomb again, and sent an urgent telegram to England, in which he informed his friend about the long-awaited find.
Waiting for Lord Carnarvon
The rumor about the discovery of a previously unknown burial quickly spread around the district and gave rise to a problem that Howard Carter himself had to solve alone before the arrival of the lord. A tomb is a place where not only a mummy is located, but also the treasures buried with it. Naturally, such valuables become bait for robbers who are capable of any crime in order to possess them. Therefore, with all the acuteness the question arose of how to protect jewelry and ourselves from unwanted visitors. With thispurpose, the staircase leading to the door was not only covered up, but piled up with heavy stone debris, and a 24-hour guard was posted nearby.
At last Lord Carnarvon arrived on November 23rd, and in his presence the stairs were once again cleared of rubble. Two days later, when all the preparations were completed, and the seals on the door were sketched and photographed, they began to dismantle the walled entrance to the tomb. By this moment, it became obvious that what Howard Carter had dreamed of for many years had come true - the tomb of Tutankhamun was in front of him. This was evidenced by the inscription on one of the seals.
The second door Howard Carter found
Tutankhamen from dreams became a reality. He was only a few steps away. When the barrier on their way was removed, in the light of the lanterns, the researchers saw an inclined narrow corridor, also cluttered with rubble and leading directly to the burial chamber. The Arabs hired to carry out the excavations freed him by carrying out the soil in wicker baskets. Finally the main moment arrived. On the morning of November 26, archaeologists stood in front of the second door, which also retained the ancient seals of Tutankhamun.
When the last basket of rubble was removed, Carter cut a hole in the top of the door, allowing a probe to be inserted into it. The check showed that the space behind the door is completely free. Using a flashlight, Carter looked inside. What he saw exceeded all expectations. A room that looked like a museum hall opened up in front of him. It was filled with the most amazing items, many ofwhich scientists saw for the first time.
The Treasury of Tutankhamun
First of all, the astonished archaeologist was struck by three massive golden beds, dimly shining in the light of the lantern. Behind them were black, full-length figures of the pharaoh, decorated with gold trim. The rest of the room was filled with all sorts of chests full of jewels, finely crafted alabaster vases, and various ornaments made of gold and precious stones. There was only one thing missing in this treasury - it did not contain any sarcophagi, nor the mummy of the one who owned all this we alth.
The next day, electricity was supplied to the tomb, and when it was illuminated, the second door was opened. Now the scientists had to do serious and painstaking work - all the objects behind it had to be photographed, sketched, and their location was accurately indicated on the plan of the room. It soon became clear that under one of the two boxes there was a secret entrance to another small side room, also filled with precious items.
Working with items found in the tomb
Everything that Howard Carter discovered required scientific processing and systematization. Therefore, after the grand opening of the tomb on November 29, 1922 in the presence of officials, leading experts from many scientific centers of the world were invited to work with the exhibits found in it. Famous archaeologists, epigraphists, chemists-restorers, artists and photographers gathered in the Valley of the Maidens.
Only three months later, when all the found items were taken out of the tomb with appropriate precautions, they began to open the third door discovered during the work. When it was taken apart, it turned out to be what Howard Carter had supposed - the tomb of Tutankhamen, or rather, his burial chamber.
Mummy, which is three thousand years old
Almost the entire volume of the room was occupied by a gilded ark 5.08 meters long, 3.3 meters wide and 2.75 meters high. Inside it, like nesting dolls, there were three more arks of smaller sizes one inside the other. When the researchers carefully dismantled them and carried them outside, a quartzite sarcophagus presented itself to their eyes. After its lid was raised, inside they saw an anthropoid (made in the form of a human figure) coffin covered with gilding. Its lid depicted Tutankhamen himself, lying with his arms crossed.
Inside it were two more of the same coffins, exactly fitted one to the other, so that it was very difficult to separate them. When they were taken out with all the precautions, in the last of them they found the mummy of the pharaoh himself, who had died more than three thousand years ago, wrapped in shrouds. His face was covered with a golden mask, made with extraordinary perfection and weighing nine kilograms.
What Howard Carter did is recognized as the greatest discovery in the history of archeology. The ruler of Egypt, who died at a young age and rested in a tomb opened by a scientist, immediately became an objectattention of millions of people. Howard Carter himself gained worldwide fame. His contribution to the study of the history of Ancient Egypt was so great that it made it possible to compose a picture of the funeral rituals of the Middle Kingdom period in a completely new way.
