5 November 1922
Ancient Boy King Found
Sarah Irwin
After lying undisturbed for over 3000 years in
Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, the lost tomb of
King Tutankhamen was discovered by British
archeologist Howard Carter yesterday. Many
scholars believe this might be the most
significant find in the history of Egyptology.
The tomb, which is full of riches, is almost
completely intact and was found after five years
of searching on the part of Carter and his team.
The three chambers of the tomb contain many
of the young king's possessions as well as
hundreds of priceless objects including a solid
gold burial mask and the royal throne.
Tutankhamen was laid to rest here in 1324 BC
and his mummified body is still in an almost
perfect preserved state.
According to Dr. Carter and his team, this
discovery will lead to an immense amount of
information about life in ancient Egypt. The
tomb is one of the very few in the Valley of the
Kings that has not been looted by thieves. Dr.
Carter estimates that the tomb might have been
disturbed hundreds of years before its discovery
because a bag of rings had been found dropped
on the floor by a possible ancient robber fleeing
the tomb in haste.
Howard Carter opening the sarcophagus of
King Tutankhamen.
King Tut’s golden sarcophagus
Dr. Carter says he was “surprised” at how small
King Tutankhamen’s tomb was compared to the
great pyramids and elaborate burial crypts of
earlier kings such as nearby King Ramesses VI.
Inside Tutankhamen’s tomb Carter’s team have
found over 3000 items, including alabaster
vases, blue Egyptian wall carvings and many
provisions for his afterlife. These include
trussed duck, venison and other foodstuffs
packed in boxes in accordance with the customs
of the time. Also found are wreaths that look as
if they were made recently and rolls of papyri.
King Tutankhamen was probably born in
Akhetatn, which was the capital city of Egypt
during his life at 1346 BC. He was one of
Egypt’s youngest kings or Pharaohs, beginning
his rule at nine years old in 1337 BC during the
18th dynasty when the Egyptian empire was at
its strongest. King Tutankhamen was born
Tutankhaten, meaning the “living image” of his
father Aten. His name changed when he became
Pharaoh. Tutankhamen may have married one
of his stepsisters. King Tutankhamen died at the
age of 18 or 19. Archeologists are not sure how
he died at such a young age, although they
theorize that he died from a wound to his leg.
Legend has it that anyone who dares open the
tomb will suffer the wrath of the mummy.
When asked about the Curse of Tutankhamen,
Carter just smiled and said, “We’ll have to wait
and see.”