The British archaeologist Howard Carter was the discoverer after 8 years of searchingThe eternal resting place of the young pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty became world famous for being intact after more than three millenniaThe tomb was safe from looting and it was estimated that it housed more than 5000 objects This November 4 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery, in 1922, of the entrance to the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun near Luxor, by the British archaeologist Howard Carter, after 8 years of searching. The discovery of the eternal resting place of the young pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty achieved world fame due to the fact that it was intact after more than three millennia, safe from looting, being the best preserved tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Prestigious for its innovative archaeological methods, Carter had begun in 1907 to work for Lord Carnarvon, an enthusiastic nobleman fond of archaeology, as supervisor of the excavations at Deir el-Bahari, near Thebes. In 1914, Lord Carnarvo n received permits to dig in the Valley of the Kings, and Carter was rehired to lead the work. He was in charge of finding tombs that went unnoticed in previous expeditions, in particular that of the pharaoh Tutankhamun, although the work was temporarily paralyzed by the First World War. In 1922, Lord Carnarvon became impatient with the absence of results after several years of searching and withdrawal of funds was considered. After a discussion with Carter, he agreed to finance one last season in the Valley of the Kings, Wikipedia reports. On November 4, 1922, the team’s water carrier tripped over a rock that turned out to be the start of a flight of steps. Carter excavated the steps partially until the discovery of a mud door in which several Egyptian cartouches, seals with hieroglyphic writing, were observed. The archaeologist ordered the staircase to be filled in again and sent a telegram to Carnarvon, who had traveled to Egypt from England. Yes, I can see wonderful things! On November 24, 1922, the entire staircase was excavated and the Egyptian cartouche in it access indicating the name of Tutankhamun. Two days later, Carter made a “small opening in the upper left corner” of the entry. From there he was able to glimpse the interior thanks to the light of a candle and see gilt and ivory treasures. Carnarvon asked him if he could see anything, and Carter replied with his famous line: Yes, I can see wonderful things!Carnarvon had discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, which would later be known as KV62. The burial was protected until the arrival of an official from the Department of Egyptian Antiquities the next day, though that night Carter, Carnarvon, their daughter and aide Callender apparently trespassed, becoming the first people in three millennia to gain access to the burial. The next morning, November 27, saw the inspection of the tomb by an Egyptian officer. Callender agreed with electric light, illuminating a vast collection of objects, including divans, chests, thrones, and altars. They also found evidence of adjoining rooms, including a sealed door to the sarcophagus chamber, flanked by two statues of Tutankhamun. Despite the existence of signs of looting in ancient times, the tomb was intact and it was estimated that it housed more than 5000 objects. On November 29, the tomb was officially opened in the presence of several invited dignitaries and Egyptian officials. Realizing the enormity of the task, Carter enlisted the help of Albert Lythgoe of the excavation team at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, who was working nearby. , while the Egyptian government sent the analytical chemist Alfred Lucas. On February 16, 1923, Carter opened the sealed door and confirmed that he was leading to Tutankhamun’s sarcophagus. The tomb was considered the best preserved and intact in the Valley of the Kings and its discovery reached the world press. Lord Carnarvon sold the exclusive to The Times, which infuriated the rest of the press. Ten years to classify the finds At the end of February 1923, an argument between Carnarvon and Carter, probably caused by how to deal with the Egyptian authorities, interrupted the excavation. temporarily. Work resumed in March following an apology from Carnarvon to Carter. At the end of that month Carnarvon contracted bacteremia from an insect bite while staying in Luxor, near the tomb, and died on April 5 of that year, feeding the legend of the curse of Tutankhamun. The meticulous methods of cataloging the thousands of objects in the tomb occupied Carter for almost ten years, before being transferred to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.