the discovery of tutankhamun, in color

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In 1907, Egyptologist and archaeologist Howard Carter was hired by George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon to oversee excavations in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings.

On Nov. 4, 1922, his crew discovered a step carved into the rock. By the end of the next day, a whole staircase had been uncovered. Carter wired Carnarvon, imploring him to come at once.

On Nov. 26, with Carnarvon at his side, Carter chipped open a small breach in the corner of the doorway at the end of the stairs. Holding a candle, he peered inside.

At first I could see nothing, the hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker, but presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold — everywhere the glint of gold.

December 1922 - A ceremonial bed in the shape of the Celestial Cow, surrounded by provisions and other objects in the antechamber of the tomb.

December 1922 - A gilded lion bed, clothes chest and other objects in the antechamber. The wall of the burial chamber is guarded by statues.

The team had discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, the boy king who ruled Egypt from about 1332 to 1323 BC. 

Though there was evidence the tomb had twice been raided by ancient grave robbers, it was still remarkably intact. The tomb was crammed with thousands of priceless artifacts, including the sarcophagus containing the king’s mummified remains.

Every object in the tomb was meticulously recorded and cataloged before being removed, a process that took nearly eight years.

December 1922 - A gilded lion bed and inlaid clothes chest among other objects in the antechamber.

December 1922Ornately carved alabaster vases in the antechamber.

December 1922 - Under the lion bed in the antechamber are several boxes and chests, and an ebony and ivory chair which Tutankhamun used as a child.

c. 1923 - Lord Carnarvon, financier of the excavation, reads on the veranda of Carter's house near the Valley of the Kings.

c. 1923 - An assortment of model boats in the treasury of the tomb.

c. 1923 - A gilded bust of the Celestial Cow Mehet-Weret and chests sit in the treasury of the tomb.

c. 1923 - Chests inside the treasury.

c. 1923A statue of Anubis on a shrine with pallbearers' poles in the treasury of the tomb.

Nov. 29, 1923 - Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker wrap one of the sentinel statues for transport.

Dec. 2, 1923Carter, Callende, and two workers remove the partition wall between the antechamber and the burial chamber.

December 1923 - Inside the outermost shrine in the burial chamber, a huge linen pall with gold rosettes, reminiscent of the night sky, covers the smaller shrines within.

Dec. 30th, 1923 - Carter, Mace and an Egyptian worker carefully roll up the linen pall covering the second shrine.

December 1923Carter, Callender and two Egyptian workers carefully dismantle one of the golden shrines within the burial chamber.

December 1923 - Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas work on a golden chariot from Tutankhamun's tomb outside the "laboratory" in the tomb of Sethos II.

Jan. 4, 1924Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker open the doors of the innermost shrine and get their first look at Tutankhamun's sarcophagus.

January 1924In a "laboratory" set up in the tomb of Sethos II, conservators Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas clean one of the sentinel statues from the antechamber.

October 1925 - Carter examines Tutankhamun's sarcophagus.

October 1925 - Carter and a worker examine the solid gold innermost sarcophagus.

November 1925Tutankhamun's burial mask.