Today in History

February 16, 1923

Tutankhamun's Tomb Is Opened

Archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter was a man obsessed. His studies revealed the existence of a little known or remembered Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, reigning in 1333–1324 BCE. But the evidence was scant, and the location of the Pharaoh's tomb, unknown. The only financing for excavations came from wealthy patrons. In 1907, Carter had the great fortune to be introduced to George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon, an amateur Egyptologist. Carter was soon heading up all of Lord Carnarvon's digs in Egypt. He convinced Lord Carnarvon to allow him to look for Tutankhamun's tomb. Carnarvon agreed, but Carter's search turned over no new findings for several years.

In 1922, Carnarvon agreed to allow Carter one more season of searching. On November 4, 1922, Carter found the steps to Tutankhamun's tomb, buried beneath rubble from houses built on top of the tomb. On February 16, 1923, Carter and Carnarvon opened the burial chamber for the first time. "Do you see anything?" Carnarvon asked. "Yes, I see wonderful things!" came Carter's reply. Tutankhamun's tomb was the most intact tomb of a Pharaoh ever uncovered. Carnarvon died only a few months later, lending credence to the supposed "curse" of Tutankhamun's tomb that was supposed to have affected several members of the team that opened the crypt.

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