"I see wonderful things." These were the words spoken by Howard Carter about a hundred years ago after peeking through the hole they had made to open the burial chamber of young Tutankhamun. But what did this discovery mean for Egyptology? Why was it so important?
Tutankhamun: the king whose name everyone knows
Despite being one of the most famous pharaohs, there is still much that remains unknown about this young ruler from the Eighteenth Dynasty. Regarding his origins, recent DNA studies have confirmed one of the most accepted theories: Tutankhamun – or Tutankhaton initially – was the son of his predecessor on the throne, Akhenaten.
Akhenaten, or Amenhotep IV, is known mainly for the religious changes he promoted. With him, the primary deity shifted from Amun to Aten, which explains his name change (Akhenaten= "useful for Aten") and the move of the capital to Akhetaten ("Horizon of Aten"), now known as Tell-el-Amarna. However, these changes in daily life for Egyptians only lasted during his reign. When Tutankhamun ascended to the throne, he revoked his father's decision and reinstated the worship of Amun (Stevens, 2006:5).
But remember that when Tutankhamun took the throne, he was only 10 years old. At this age, it's logical to assume his decisions were advised – or even made directly – by others. In this role was the Vizier Ay, who likely was the one pushing for the decree restoring the religion before Aten and who would eventually succeed the young king after his death (Grimal, 1988:266).
Regarding his death, until recently it had been another of many mysteries surrounding this pharaoh due to the misuse of products intended for preserving his mummy. Now, thanks to the Tutankhamun Family Project (2007-2009), we know that it's very possible he suffered from Köhler disease, which explains why so many walking sticks were found among his belongings. On the other hand, it seems malaria was another illness affecting his health. Whether due to one cause or another, the young pharaoh died at age 19 without leaving any descendants (Babón and Seco, 2022: 27).
The discovery of KV62
KV62 is located in the Valley of the Kings (Egypt) and was discovered on November 4, 1922, marking the beginning of a new era in Egyptology.
From an early age, Howard Carter felt fascinated by ancient Egypt and its culture. In 1892 he ended up working under the command of William Flinders Petrie in Amarna, that city we mentioned which was founded by Akhenaten; and between 1894 and 1899 with Édouard Naville at Hatshepsut's temple. He served as an inspector of monuments in Upper Egypt for the Egyptian Antiquities Service, which provided him funding for new excavations (Pons Mellado, 1999: 425 – 426).
But it was in 1907 when the adventure began that would link his name with young Tutankhamun. Lord Carnarvon, an English nobleman, hired him to lead the work on excavations he himself would finance in the Valley of the Kings. In 1922, seeing no results, Lord Carnarvon decided to withdraw funding, not before giving Carter one last chance – at his insistence – for a new excavation campaign (Pons Mellado, 1999: 428).
Thanks to this last act of faith, on November 4, 1922 the first steps leading down to a sealed tomb with Tutankhamun's name appeared.
"Finally, we have made a wonderful discovery in the Valley. A magnificent tomb with intact seals. I've covered it up again as it was and am waiting for you to arrive. Congratulations.".
Telegram from Howard Carter to Lord Carnarvon.
Finally, on November 23rd, Carnarvon arrived with his daughter from England to witness the opening of the tomb in person, marking a before and after in Egyptology's history.
Impact
The discovery of the tomb was not only a milestone due to its good state of preservation, but also an example of professionalism by Carter. The work of clearing out its interior was carried out with great meticulousness, a process that took approximately 10 years. All objects were inventoried and photographed in situ; drawings and sketches were made; and those elements at risk of deterioration were restored and consolidated (Llagostera, 2002: 148). This may seem basic today, but back then it was the first time such measures were taken, setting a precedent that has continued to be improved upon.
Furthermore, the good and almost intact preservation of materials in the tomb allowed for greater understanding of history and material culture of ancient Egypt. This sparked a renewed interest in Egyptology, particularly from the West, including Spain, a country Carter visited on several occasions to speak about his findings.
For all these reasons, we see that Tutankhamun is indeed significant for history and advancement of Egyptology. Perhaps historically he was not one of the most prominent pharaohs, given his short reign prevented major achievements. Nevertheless, there's no doubt that he has become one of the best-known figures worldwide, and his discovery is considered a great milestone among those studying the wonders of the "gift of the Nile."
Bibliography
- Babón, J. M., & Seco Álvarez, M. (2022). Tutankhamun. Howard Carter in Spain: The Duke of Alba and the Egyptologist's Lectures in Madrid. Editorial Almuzara.
- Grimal, N. (1988). A History of Ancient Egypt. Ediciones AKAL.
- Llagostera Cuenca, E. (2002). Howard Carter, the luck of a destiny (May 9, 1874 – March 2, 1939). On the eightieth anniversary of the discovery of Tut-Ankh-Amon's tomb.
- Pons Mellado, E. (1999). The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb: Howard Carter’s visits to Spain. In Isimu, II, 425 – 447.
- Stevens, A. (2006). Private religion at Amarna: the material evidence. Oxford: Archaeopress.
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