Editing Howard Carter (section)

==Tutankhamun's tomb==
{{Main|Discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun}}
[[File:Egypt.KV62.01.jpg|thumb|left|Tomb of Tutankhamun]]
In 1907, he began work for [[George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon|Lord Carnarvon]], who employed him to supervise the excavation of nobles' tombs in [[Deir el-Bahari]], near Thebes.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=95}} [[Gaston Maspero]], head of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, had recommended Carter to Carnarvon as he knew he would apply modern archaeological methods and systems of recording.<ref>{{cite book|first=Elisabeth|last=David|title=Gaston Maspero 1846–1916: le gentleman égyptologue|location=Paris|publisher=Pygmalion; Gérard Watelet|year=1999|isbn=2-85704-565-4}}</ref> Carter soon developed a good working relationship with his patron, with Lady Burghclere, Carnarvon's sister, observing that "for the next sixteen years the two men worked together with varying fortune, yet ever united not more by their common aim than by their mutual regard and affection".{{sfn|Carter|Mace|1923|p=9}}

[[File:Luxor, Tal der Könige (1995, 860x605).jpg|thumb|[[List of burials in the Valley of the Kings|KV62]] in the Valley of the Kings]]

In 1914, Lord Carnarvon received the concession to dig in the Valley of the Kings.{{sfn|Price|2007|pp=121–122}} Carter led the work, undertaking a systematic search for any tombs missed by previous expeditions, in particular that of the [[Tutankhamun|Pharaoh Tutankhamun]]. However, excavations were soon interrupted by the [[First World War]], Carter spending the war years working for the British Government as a diplomatic courier and translator. He enthusiastically resumed his excavation work towards the end of 1917.{{sfn|Price|2007|pp=121–122}}

By 1922, Lord Carnarvon had become dissatisfied with the lack of results after several years of finding little. After considering withdrawing his funding, Carnarvon agreed, after a discussion with Carter, that he would fund one more season of work in the Valley of the Kings.<ref>{{cite book|first=Fiona|last=Carnarvon|title=Highclere Castle|publisher=Highclere Enterprises|year=2011|page=59}}</ref>

Carter returned to the Valley of Kings, and investigated a line of huts that he had abandoned a few seasons earlier. The crew cleared the huts and rock debris beneath. On 4 November 1922, a worker uncovered a step in the rock. According to Carter's published account the workmen discovered the step while digging beneath the remains of the huts; other accounts attribute the discovery to a boy digging outside the assigned work area.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|pp=137–138}}{{refn|group="Note"|Karl Kitchen, a reporter for the ''[[Boston Globe]]'', wrote in 1924 that a boy named Mohamed Gorgar had found the step; he interviewed Gorgar, who did not say whether the story was true.{{sfn|Riggs|2021|p=297}} Lee Keedick, the organiser of Carter's American lecture tour, said Carter attributed the discovery to an unnamed boy carrying water for the workmen.{{sfn|James|2000|p=255}} Many recent accounts, such as the 2018 book ''Tutankhamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh'' by the Egyptologist [[Zahi Hawass]], identify the water-boy as Hussein Abd el-Rassul, a member of a prominent local family. Hawass says he heard this story from el-Rassul in person. Another Egyptologist, Christina Riggs, suggests the story may instead be a conflation of Keedick's account, which was widely publicised by the 1978 book ''Tutankhamun: The Untold Story'' by [[Thomas Hoving]], with el-Rassul's long-standing claim to have been the boy who was photographed wearing one of Tutankhamun's pectorals in 1926.{{sfn|Riggs|2021|pp=296–298, 407}} }} Carter had the steps partially dug out until the top of a mud-plastered doorway was found. The doorway was stamped with indistinct [[cartouche]]s (oval seals with hieroglyphic writing). Carter ordered the staircase to be refilled, and sent a telegram to Carnarvon, who arrived from England two and a half weeks later on 23 November, accompanied by his daughter [[Lady Evelyn Beauchamp|Lady Evelyn Herbert]].{{sfn|Carter|Mace|1923|pp=94–95}}

On 24 November 1922, the full extent of the stairway was cleared and a seal containing Tutankhamun's cartouche found on the outer doorway. This door was removed and the rubble-filled corridor behind cleared, revealing the door of the tomb itself.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|pp=142–145}} On 26 November, Carter, with Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn and assistant [[Arthur Callender]] in attendance, made a "tiny breach in the top left-hand corner" of the doorway, using a chisel that his grandmother had given him for his 17th birthday. He was able to peer in by the light of a candle and see that many of the gold and ebony treasures were still in place. He did not yet know whether it was "a tomb or merely an old cache", but he did see a promising sealed doorway between two sentinel statues. Carnarvon asked, "Can you see anything?" Carter replied: "Yes, wonderful things!"{{sfn|Reeves|Taylor|1992|p=141|loc=Lord Carnarvon's description, 10 December 1922}} Carter had, in fact, discovered Tutankhamun's tomb (subsequently designated [[KV62]]).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/sites/browse_tomb_876.html
|title=KV 62 (Tutankhamen)
|access-date=31 December 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212175737/http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/sites/browse_tomb_876.html
|archive-date=12 December 2007
|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tomb was then secured, to be entered in the presence of an official of the [[Supreme Council of Antiquities|Egyptian Department of Antiquities]] the next day.{{sfn|Carter|Mace|1923|p=90}} However that night, Carter, Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn and Callender apparently made an unauthorised visit, becoming the first people in modern times to enter the tomb.<ref>Lord Carnarvon, ''[[The Times ]]'' (11 Dec 1922), cited in Winstone, p 154.</ref>{{sfn|Lucas|1942|pp=135–147}}{{sfn|Hoving|1978|loc=Chapter 9}} Some sources suggest that the group also entered the inner burial chamber.<ref>That the group entered the burial chamber is supported by Lucas and Hoving, but dismissed by Carnarvon in ''The Times'', 11 December 1922.</ref> In this account, a small hole was found in the chamber's sealed doorway and Carter, Carnarvon and Lady Evelyn crawled through.{{sfn|Hoving|1978|loc=Chapter 9}}

The next morning, 27 November, saw an inspection of the tomb in the presence of an Egyptian official. Callender rigged up electric lighting, illuminating a vast haul of items, including gilded couches, chests, thrones, and shrines. They also saw evidence of two further chambers, including the sealed doorway to the inner burial chamber, guarded by two life-size statues of Tutankhamun.{{sfn|Carter|Mace|1923|pp=101–104}} In spite of evidence of break-ins in ancient times, the tomb was virtually intact, and would ultimately be found to contain over 5,000 items.

On 29 November the tomb was officially opened in the presence of a number of invited dignitaries and Egyptian officials.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=155}}

[[File:maison Carter.jpg|thumb|Carter's house in the [[Theban Necropolis]], in 2009]]

Realising the size and scope of the task ahead, Carter sought help from [[Albert Lythgoe]] of the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art|Metropolitan Museum]]'s excavation team, working nearby, who readily agreed to lend a number of his staff, including [[Arthur Cruttenden Mace|Arthur Mace]] and archaeological photographer [[Harry Burton (Egyptologist)|Harry Burton]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=''The Dean of Archaeological Photographers: Harry Burton''. [[Journal of Egyptian Archaeology]], Vol. 99, 2013|last=Ridley |first=Ronald T|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing]] |location=California |pages=124–126}}</ref> while the Egyptian government loaned analytical chemist [[Alfred Lucas (chemist)|Alfred Lucas]].{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=297}} The next several months were spent cataloguing and conserving the contents of the antechamber under the "often stressful" supervision of [[Pierre Lacau]], director general of the Department of Antiquities.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=134 and passim}} 

On 16 February 1923, Carter opened the sealed doorway and confirmed it led to a burial chamber, containing the [[sarcophagus]] of Tutankhamun. The tomb was considered the best preserved and most intact pharaonic tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings, and the discovery was eagerly covered by the world's press. However, much to the annoyance of other newspapers, Lord Carnarvon sold exclusive reporting rights to ''[[The Times]]''. Only Arthur Merton of that paper was allowed on the scene, and his vivid descriptions helped to establish Carter's reputation with the British public.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=179}}

Towards the end of February 1923, a rift between Lord Carnarvon and Carter, probably caused by a disagreement on how to manage the supervising Egyptian authorities, temporarily halted the excavation. Work recommenced in early March after Lord Carnarvon apologised to Carter.{{sfn|Price|2007|pp=130–131}} Later that month Lord Carnarvon contracted [[Bacteremia|blood poisoning]] while staying in Luxor near the tomb site. He died in Cairo on 5 April 1923.<ref>{{cite news |title=Report of Carnarvon's death.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/04/05/archives/carnarvon-is-dead-of-an-insects-bite-at-pharaohs-tomb-blood.html|work=The New York Times |date=5 April 1923 |access-date=12 August 2008}}</ref> [[Almina Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon|Lady Carnarvon]] retained her late husband's concession in the Valley of the Kings, allowing Carter to continue his work.

Carter's meticulous assessing and cataloguing of the thousands of objects in the tomb took nearly ten years, most being moved to the [[Egyptian Museum]] in Cairo. There were several breaks in the work, including one lasting nearly a year in 1924–25, caused by a dispute over what Carter saw as excessive control of the excavation by the Egyptian Antiquities Service. The Egyptian authorities eventually agreed that Carter should complete the tomb's clearance.{{sfn|Price|2007|pp=132–134}} This continued until 1929, with some final work lasting until February 1932.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|pp=355–356}}

Despite the significance of his archaeological find, Carter received no honour from the British government. However, in 1926, he received the [[Order of the Nile]], third class, from King [[Fuad I of Egypt]].<ref>[[The Scotsman]], Saturday 27 March 1926, page 8.</ref> He was also awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Science by [[Yale University]] and honorary membership in the [[Real Academia de la Historia]] of [[Madrid]], Spain.<ref>{{cite news|title=Howard Carter, 64, Egyptologist, Dies|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0509.html|work=The New York Times |date=3 March 1939 |access-date=19 August 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Mechanical Dog MET DP228714.jpg|alt=Mechanical Dog|thumb|Egyptian Mechanical Ivory Dog Sculpture]]
Renowned archaeologist Howard Carter, also found an ivory sculpture of a dog measuring 7.2 inches (18.2 cm) in length. Experts speculate that this Mechanical dog, likely buried in the tomb of an elite individual, perhaps a member of [[Amenhotep III]]'s royal court, exemplifies ancient craftsmanship, although the exact burial location remains unknown.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patil |first=Jayendra |title=3,400-Year-Old Ancient Egypt’s Mechanical Dog That Barks and Moves! |url=https://www.utubepublisher.in/2025/03/3400-year-old-mechanical-dog-from-ancient-egypt.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Utube Publisher}}</ref>

According to The [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], the lever that works the dog's lower jaw, making it appear to bark, was originally held on by a piece of leather cord looped through small holes. At some point, the cord was replaced with a metal dowel secured in the dog's shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web |last=published |first=Kristina Killgrove |date=2025-03-17 |title=Mechanical Dog: A 'good boy' from ancient Egypt that has a red tongue and 'barks' |url=https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ancient-egyptians/mechanical-dog-a-good-boy-from-ancient-egypt-that-has-a-red-tongue-and-barks |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=Live Science |language=en}}</ref>

Carter wrote a number of books on Egyptology during his career,<ref>{{cite web|title=Howard Carter, 64, Egyptologist, Dies|url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/202032.Howard_Carter|work=Goodreads |date=3 March 2018 |access-date=19 August 2018}}</ref> including ''Five Years' Exploration at Thebes'', co-written with Lord Carnarvon in 1912, describing their early excavations,<ref>{{cite book|first1=Earl of|last1= Carnarvon|first2=Howard|last2=Carter|title=Five Years' Exploration at Thebes |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/474563606|year=1912|oclc=474563606}}</ref> and a three-volume popular account of the discovery and excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb.<ref>[https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Carter%2C+Howard++&qt=results_page Howard Carter, The Tomb of Tut.Ankh.Amen, 3 volumes.]</ref> He also delivered a series of illustrated lectures on the excavation, including a 1924 tour of Britain, France, Spain and the United States.{{sfn|Cross|2006|p=92}} Those in New York and other US cities were attended by large and enthusiastic audiences, sparking [[American Egyptomania]],<ref name=Onthenet/> with President [[Calvin Coolidge|Coolidge]] requesting a private lecture.{{sfn|Winstone|2006|p=250}}

In 2022, a 1934 letter to Carter from [[Alan Gardiner]] came to light, accusing him of stealing from Tutankhamun's tomb. Carter had given Gardiner an amulet and assured him it had not come from the tomb, but [[Reginald Engelbach]], director of the Egyptian Museum, later confirmed its match with other samples originating in the tomb. Egyptologist [[Bob Brier]] said the letter proved previous rumours, and the contemporary suspicions of Egyptian authorities, that Carter had been siphoning treasures for himself.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alberge |first1=Dalya |title=Howard Carter stole Tutankhamun's treasure, new evidence suggests |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2022/aug/13/howard-carter-stole-tutankhamuns-treasure-new-evidence-suggests |access-date=13 August 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=13 August 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard Carter.jpg|thumb|[[Manuel Rosenberg]] autographed sketch of Howard Carter, 1924 for the Cincinnati Post]]