Centenary of Tutankhamun excavation In Nov 1922, after years of searching, British archaeologist Howard Carter stumbles upon a buried flight of steps while working in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings and unearths the entrance to the 3,000-year-old tomb of Tutankhamun. In the months that follow, thousands of priceless artefacts are recovered in one of the greatest finds in the history of archaeology Memphis EGYPT Thebes Valley of the Kings Nile Wood and plaster statuette of King Tut emerging from lotus flower, found in tomb TUTANKHAMUN Born in 1341 BC, believed to be son of pharaoh Akhenaten and Akhenaten’s sister Becomes king in 1333 BC at age nine. Marries paternal half-sister, Ankhesenamun Dies in 1323 BC aged 19, possibly from malaria and degenerative bone disease THRILL OF DISCOVERY Nov 4, 1922: Three days into final season bankrolled by Lord Carnarvon, Carter finds stairway cut into limestone bedrock Nov 25: Rubble blocking access to first sealed door removed, revealing corridor Nov 26: Carter peers through hole on second sealed door for first look into tomb. He sees “wonderful things” Feb 17, 1923: Burial chamber is finally unsealed before invited guests. Outermost shrine is seen, filling the space Photographer Harry Burton’s 1924 recreation of moment Carter (kneeling), engineer Arthur Callender and assistant first see sarcophagus through opened shrine doors Oct 28, 1925: After three years excavating tomb, Carter opens last of king’s three coffins to reveal gold mask, seen for first time in 3,250 years It would take Carter 10 years to catalogue all 5,398 items from burial, which included thrones, archery bows, trumpets, food, wine and fresh underwear TOMB (KV 62) Only tomb from pharaonic New Kingdom (1550 BC-1069 BC) to be found almost intact Evidence of ancient, minor break-ins only, probably soon after funeral Treasures give unique insight into funeral rites and skill of craftsmen Antechamber Contains household items for king's voyage to afterlife Annexe Crammed with more than 2,000 artefacts Coffins Mummified remains preserved in nest of three elaborately-decorated coffins Outermost coffin Made of gilded wood Middle coffin Gilded wood inlaid with red and turquoise glass and blue pottery Innermost coffin 110kg of solid gold Mummified body of King Tut Funerary mask Pure gold “death mask” of boy king, inlaid with lapis, obsidian and quartz, now iconic symbol of Ancient Egypt Burial chamber Only room with wall paintings, showing funeral and arrival in underworld Royal sarcophagus Carved from single block of red quartzite and surrounded by four gilded wooden shrines Treasury Canopic shrine stores chest of four jars, which contain internal organs – lungs, stomach, intestines and liver – each topped with alabaster image of Tutankhamun Statue of god Anubis Canopic shrine 2 metres Recent analysis suggests Tut’s dagger has iron blade made from meteorite Sandals found in tomb Sources: The Griffith Institute, Theban Mapping Project, Tutankhamun's Tomb: The Thrill of Discovery by Susan Allen, James Allen Pictures: Newscom, Roland Unger, Olaf Tausch © GRAPHIC NEWS