HOWARD CARTER
100 years ago, this archaeologist shot to worldwide renown when he discovered the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun
The discovery of the tomb of ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was made more famous because it was so well hidden, untouched by grave robbers and archaeologists alike for thousands of years. When it was unearthed a century ago, the mummified body and its decorated sarcophagus emerged fully intact. Many ancient tombs were uncovered in Egypt in the 20th century, but Tutankhamun’s remains and treasures were the only ones to be excavated in their entirety.
Tutankhamun was a young pharaoh who ruled ancient Egypt for just a single decade, until around 1324 BCE. Howard Carter, the archaeologist who led the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb, searched the landscape of Egypt for three decades before he found the pharaoh’s final resting place.
Carter’s career began in a wholly unlikely place, following the legacy of his artist father Samuel John Carter and developing an early talent for drawing and art. His father, who helped homeschool Carter, would often paint portraits of Egyptologists. As a result, and during his teenage years especially, Carter became intrigued by Egypt and the country’s history – the first trip he made outside of England was to Alexandria, Egypt. By combining his artistic talents with his interest in Egyptology, Carter recreated the artwork that was discovered in the tombs of Middle Egypt. Some of the famous sites he visited, shadowing famous archaeologists, include Edfu, Thebes, and Abu Simbel.
His experiences in Egypt, which included working with renowned archaeologist William Flinders Petrie, helped him build upon his archaeological skills. Petrie wasn’t greatly impressed by the youngster’s excavation abilities, but Carter insisted on perfecting his restoration techniques. Someone who saw further potential in the young archaeologist was a wealthy English aristocrat called Lord