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The Tomb of Tutankhamun, Volume 1: Search, Discovery and Clearance of the Antechamber
The discovery of the resting place of the great Egyptian King Tutankhamun [Tut.ankh.Amen] in November 1922 by Howard Carter and the fifth Earl of Carnarvon was the greatest archaeological find the world had ever seen. Despite its plundering by thieves in antiquity, the burial of the king lay intact with its nest of coffins and funerary shrines, surrounded by a mass of burial equipment arranged in three peripheral chambers.Published in 1923, this is the first volume of Carter's trilogy, describing the years of frustration in search of the burial site, the triumph of its eventual discovery and the long, painstaking process of exploring and cataloguing its treasures. Containing over 100 images from the site itself, this volume also includes Carter's short article, ?The Tomb of the Bird, ? which inadvertently spawned the legend of the great curse of Tutankhamun's tomb.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1926
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About the author
Howard Carter
133 books42 followersHoward Carter is best known for his discovery of the tomb of the 14th century BCE Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Carter was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist who devoted his life to archaeology. He first travelled to Egypt in 1891, where he held several archaeological positions, until in 1907 he was privately funded by the English aristocrat Lord Carnarvon to carry out work at Carnarvon's excavation sites. This work was interrupted by World War One, but resumed immediately after. In 1922, growing tired of the lack of results Carnarvon offered Carter one more year of funding.
On the 4th of November 1922 Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. This discovery immediately gained international attention, and huge crowds flocked to see the tomb. This was the first intact ancient, royal Egyptian discovered. The immensely demanding task of excavating and examining the artefacts continued for several years, amidst a great amount of controversy and difficulties.
Carter eventually left Tutankhamum for others, and spent the remainder of his life as an agent for collectors and museums, and as a public speaker on the subject of Egyptology.
Carter was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist who devoted his life to archaeology. He first travelled to Egypt in 1891, where he held several archaeological positions, until in 1907 he was privately funded by the English aristocrat Lord Carnarvon to carry out work at Carnarvon's excavation sites. This work was interrupted by World War One, but resumed immediately after. In 1922, growing tired of the lack of results Carnarvon offered Carter one more year of funding.
On the 4th of November 1922 Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. This discovery immediately gained international attention, and huge crowds flocked to see the tomb. This was the first intact ancient, royal Egyptian discovered. The immensely demanding task of excavating and examining the artefacts continued for several years, amidst a great amount of controversy and difficulties.
Carter eventually left Tutankhamum for others, and spent the remainder of his life as an agent for collectors and museums, and as a public speaker on the subject of Egyptology.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 22, 2021
"Can you see anything?"
"Yes, wonderful things."
Howard Carter wrote this book about his discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen while much of the tomb was still not explored, and the mummy itself was still in its sarcophagus, inside a layer of multiple shrines, in the inner chamber of the tomb. So we are getting a glimpse of a work in progress. And it is very fascinating. Carter gives a review of the archaeology/looting that had been done in the Valley of the Kings up to his own time, and then a detailed description of his own work, his discoveries, the realisation that he had found the nearly undisturbed tomb of Tutankhamen, and a detailed description of the careful work to preserve as much as possible of its contents. It is obviously important to Carter to distance himself from the image of the dilettante archaeologist or tomb raider, who lounges in his hammock while "natives" dig in the earth and occasionally bring him the objects they find for him to take the credit. Carter's image of himself is as a scientist, and he devotes some time to describing the importance of documentation, photography of objects in situ, how it could take weeks of hard work to empty the contents of a single chest, and so on.
When Carter wrote the book, it was a story of egyptology and archaeology. To a reader nearly 100 years later, it is also a primary source about the practice of British explorers in Egypt. On both counts, the book is supremely interesting.
Carter writes well. His enthusiasm for his subject really comes across, and the reader really feels what an amazing experience it must have been - as when the formal, stiff-upper-lip Englishman, pictured excavating with a suit and bowtie, describes how the beauty of an object in the tomb brought him to tears. It makes me want to read more about ancient Egypt, a topic I know very little about.
"Yes, wonderful things."
Howard Carter wrote this book about his discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen while much of the tomb was still not explored, and the mummy itself was still in its sarcophagus, inside a layer of multiple shrines, in the inner chamber of the tomb. So we are getting a glimpse of a work in progress. And it is very fascinating. Carter gives a review of the archaeology/looting that had been done in the Valley of the Kings up to his own time, and then a detailed description of his own work, his discoveries, the realisation that he had found the nearly undisturbed tomb of Tutankhamen, and a detailed description of the careful work to preserve as much as possible of its contents. It is obviously important to Carter to distance himself from the image of the dilettante archaeologist or tomb raider, who lounges in his hammock while "natives" dig in the earth and occasionally bring him the objects they find for him to take the credit. Carter's image of himself is as a scientist, and he devotes some time to describing the importance of documentation, photography of objects in situ, how it could take weeks of hard work to empty the contents of a single chest, and so on.
When Carter wrote the book, it was a story of egyptology and archaeology. To a reader nearly 100 years later, it is also a primary source about the practice of British explorers in Egypt. On both counts, the book is supremely interesting.
Carter writes well. His enthusiasm for his subject really comes across, and the reader really feels what an amazing experience it must have been - as when the formal, stiff-upper-lip Englishman, pictured excavating with a suit and bowtie, describes how the beauty of an object in the tomb brought him to tears. It makes me want to read more about ancient Egypt, a topic I know very little about.
January 14, 2022
This was a very enjoyable read for me. I had been curious about the detail account of this discovery for quite a while and the curiosity heightened after my hearing the details on a podcast. I know there are lot of accounts out there but I wanted to read something authentic, coming directly from Howard Carter's diary pages and this books feels just that. Since Search, discovery and the excitement around it as well as Antechamber all was part of the same book, I was suspicious about the details it would be able to cover. Absolutely loved the pictures and the reference at the end of the book though.
May 8, 2023
For those of you who don’t know, Howard Carter was an Egyptologist and in November 1922, he discovered an almost in tact of tomb of King Tutankhamun, in the valley of the kings. It was a find unlike any other.
In 1923, Howard Carter published the first of his diaries, documenting his frustrations in trying to find the burial site, to his elation at discovering it and his wonder at the treasures found inside; the search, the discovery and the clearance of the antechamber. A task which took many years but the rewards were second to none.
Find my full review on my blog -> http://bookworminglife.com/howard-car...
In 1923, Howard Carter published the first of his diaries, documenting his frustrations in trying to find the burial site, to his elation at discovering it and his wonder at the treasures found inside; the search, the discovery and the clearance of the antechamber. A task which took many years but the rewards were second to none.
Find my full review on my blog -> http://bookworminglife.com/howard-car...
August 29, 2021
A very interesting book in that it was written after the first year of excavations of Tutankhamen's tomb. It covers the discovery of the tomb to the opening of the burial chamber. Carter does an excellent job covering the work of archeology--the importance of documenting each find in situ, the difficulty in preservation, and the difficulty of dealing with visitors. The book is lavishly illustrated with over 70 photographs which add a lot even though the are in black and white (as one would expect from a book written in 1923)
June 6, 2023
After going to COSI to see Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures exhibit, this read like a really fascinating review while also being so much more! The way everything is written is beautiful and sucks you into the discovery and makes you feel like you're there.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews