Tomb of Tutankhamun

Tomb of Tutankhamun. Known as KV62, it is the burial place of the young Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. Its discovery in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, funded by George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, caused a worldwide sensation due to its nearly intact state. The tomb's unparalleled collection of artifacts has provided an invaluable window into the art, religion, and material culture of the New Kingdom period.

Discovery and excavation

The search for the tomb was initiated by Howard Carter under the patronage of George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, after years of fruitless excavation in the Valley of the Kings. On November 4, 1922, Carter's team uncovered a step cut into the bedrock, leading to a sealed doorway stamped with the seals of the Royal Necropolis. The inner chambers were officially opened on November 26 in the presence of Carnarvon, with Carter famously peering in and stating he saw "wonderful things." The meticulous excavation, documented by photographer Harry Burton, continued for nearly a decade, with the final object removed in 1932. The death of Lord Carnarvon in 1923 fueled speculation about a "Curse of the Pharaohs," widely sensationalized by the press like The Times.

Architecture and layout

The tomb's architecture is modest compared to other royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, such as KV5 or the tomb of Seti I, likely due to Tutankhamun's sudden death. It consists of a descending corridor, an antechamber, a burial chamber, a treasury, and an annex. The burial chamber is the only room with decorated walls, featuring scenes from the Amduat and depicting the pharaoh with deities like Osiris, Anubis, and Hathor. The small scale and non-linear layout suggest it may have been intended for a non-royal official and hastily adapted, a theory supported by evidence of reuse of some funerary items originally meant for Neferneferuaten.

Contents and treasures

The tomb contained over 5,000 items, providing an unprecedented catalog of royal funerary goods. The most iconic object is the solid gold Mask of Tutankhamun, found covering the pharaoh's mummified head within a series of nested sarcophagi. Other major finds included the gilded Canopic shrine containing his embalmed organs, the elaborate Golden Throne decorated with a scene of the king with his wife Ankhesenamun, and numerous statues of ka spirits and deities like Ptah and Selket. The treasury held model boats, chariots, and the famous alabaster Canopic jars, while the annex was packed with provisions, furniture, and weaponry.

Significance and impact

The discovery fundamentally transformed Egyptology and public perception of Ancient Egypt. It provided the first comprehensive insight into the full assemblage of a pharaoh's burial, influencing interpretations of sites like the Tomb of Psusennes I at Tanis. The "Treasures of Tutankhamun" exhibitions, which toured globally from the 1960s, including to the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, sparked a lasting wave of "Egyptomania." The artifacts have been crucial for understanding Eighteenth Dynasty craftsmanship, trade networks evidenced by materials like Lapis lazuli, and the religious restoration following the Amarna Period.

Condition and conservation

Although found largely intact, the tomb had suffered from ancient robberies and subsequent moisture damage, which caused salt crystallization on the painted walls. The influx of visitors after its opening introduced humidity, carbon dioxide, and microbial growth, leading to concerns about long-term preservation. A major conservation project, led by the Getty Conservation Institute in collaboration with Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt), was conducted from 2009 to 2019. This project stabilized the wall paintings, installed a new ventilation system, and upgraded the viewing platform to protect the site, ensuring its accessibility for future generations at Luxor.

Category:Archaeological sites in Egypt Category:Valley of the Kings Category:18th-century BC architecture