Famous Britons: Howard Carter and Tutankhamun’s Tomb (Part I)

The British are well-known for their curiosity, enterprise, and love for art. This is why many scientific discoveries in the field of archaeology can be attributed to them. When Egypt became a British protectorate, remarkable discoveries from Ancient Egypt reached scientific societies, igniting a true mania for all things Egyptian both in Britain and worldwide.

An incredibly complex culture unfolded before us—the product of a highly advanced hierarchical society with a profound belief in the afterlife. Among the greatest treasures of this civilization was a discovery unearthed by the British artist and archaeologist Howard Carter. Let us tell you the story of Howard and his remarkable achievements!

Howard Carter was born in Kensington on May 9, 1874, into the family of an illustrator and a housewife. His father passed on his craft, teaching Howard the art of illustration, a skill in which he showed great talent. The family lived in London for some time, but poor air quality caused the death of three of their eleven children. Due to his own frail health, the young Howard was sent to live with his grandparents in Norfolk.

Near their home was Didlington Hall, the residence of Lady Amherst, an amateur ornithologist and archaeologist. Her collection of Egyptian artifacts sparked Howard Carter’s fascination with ancient Egyptian culture. Impressed by his artistic talent, Lady Amherst recommended him to archaeologist Percy Newberry, who was excavating a Middle Kingdom site in Beni Hasan, Egypt.

At only 17 years old, Carter made significant improvements to the methods of copying tomb decorations. He later worked with Flinders Petrie in Amarna and Edward Neville in Deir el-Bahari, where he recreated the intricate reliefs on the walls of Queen Hatshepsut’s tomb. Hatshepsut was the wife of Pharaoh Thutmose II, and documenting her tomb was a challenging task that Carter approached with skill and precision.

By mastering numerous excavation techniques, Carter quickly became a supervisor of archaeological sites. In 1902, he began his own excavations in the Valley of the Kings and discovered the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose IV. Although it had been looted, Carter found an alabaster vessel and a ring that hinted at a connection to Hatshepsut, whose history he was already familiar with.

In 1904, Carter transitioned to excavations in Lower Egypt, where he developed an innovative system for locating tombs. Unfortunately, a scandal involving French tourists, during which he defended the Egyptian staff, forced him to leave his position and return to Luxor. This marked a dark period for Carter, as he lacked financial support for his excavations for the next three years. To make a living, he painted landscapes for tourists and worked as a freelance artist for Theodore Davis’s expedition.

Carter’s fortunes changed when he met Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy aristocrat with a passion for uncovering ancient Egyptian culture. Lord Carnarvon hired him as a supervisor of excavations of Egyptian noble tombs in Deir el-Bahari. Little did they know, great discoveries awaited them just ahead!

Author: Iveta Radeva