Secrets of the Mummy’s Tomb

Time was running out. British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew had spent years digging in the blistering desert heat. They were searching for the lost underground tomb of the ancient Egyptian boy king Tutankhamen (too-tahn-KAH-muhn). 

Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy Englishman, was paying for the project. After years without success, he had given Carter just a few more months to find the tomb. 

Finally, on November 4, 1922, Carter’s crew made a promising discovery. They unearthed the first step of a stone staircase leading to a door. 

Carter couldn’t have imagined what he would find on the other side—and what the discovery would mean for history. It would spark a new fascination with ancient Egypt and make King Tut a worldwide celebrity.

Time was running out. British archaeologist Howard Carter and his crew had spent years digging in the blistering desert heat. They were searching for the lost underground tomb of the ancient Egyptian boy king. His name was Tutankhamen (too-tahn-KAH-muhn), or King Tut.

Lord Carnarvon, a wealthy Englishman, was paying for the project. After years without success, he had given Carter just a few more months to find the tomb. 

Finally, on November 4, 1922, Carter’s crew made a promising discovery. They unearthed the first step of a stone staircase. It led to a door.

Carter couldn’t have imagined what he would find on the other side. The discovery would be important for history. It would spark a new fascination with ancient Egypt. And it would make King Tut a worldwide celebrity.

Before Carter’s discovery, few people knew anything about the boy king who ruled Egypt more than 3,300 years ago. Following his father’s death, Tut became pharaoh when he was just 8 or 9 years old. He reigned for about a decade before he died mysteriously around 1323 B.C. 

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They preserved the bodies of their rulers as mummies and buried them with items they thought the dead would need in the afterlife. 

Carter found Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings, a royal burial ground near the Nile River. Dozens of other pharaohs were buried in the area. But looters had raided many of the tombs in ancient times and stolen the treasures that lay inside. Had Tut’s hidden tomb been spared? 

With Lord Carnarvon by his side, Carter would find out on November 26, 1922. His hand trembled as he entered the tomb through a dark passageway. Carter held up a candle to peer through a hole he had made in a second sealed door. The room glittered with gold! Inside he found golden chariots, jeweled chests, and dazzling statues. The tomb appeared to be completely intact. No one in modern times had seen anything like it. 

Before Carter’s discovery, few people knew anything about the boy king. He ruled Egypt more than 3,300 years ago. Following his father’s death, Tut became pharaoh when he was just 8 or 9 years old. He reigned for about a decade before he died mysteriously around 1323 b.c.

Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. They preserved the bodies of their rulers as mummies. They buried the mummies with items they thought the dead would need in the afterlife.

Carter found Tut’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings. That’s a royal burial ground near the Nile River. Dozens of other pharaohs were buried in the area. But looters had raided many of the tombs. They stole the treasures that lay inside. Had Tut’s hidden tomb been spared? 

With Lord Carnarvon by his side, Carter would find out on November 26, 1922. His hand trembled as he entered the tomb through a dark passageway. Carter held up a candle. He peered through a hole he had made in a second sealed door. The room glittered with gold! Inside he found golden chariots, jeweled chests, and dazzling statues. The tomb appeared to be completely intact. No one in modern times had seen anything like it.