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Howard Carter

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Howard Carter was a famous British archaeologist. He spent his life studying ancient Egypt.

Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard Carter
Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard Carter

He was born in London on May 9, 1874. His father was an artist and illustrator. This helped Carter learn how to draw very well. He grew up in a town called Swaffham. There, he saw many Egyptian antiques at a large house. These old objects made him very interested in Egypt.

Howard Carter 19 Collingham Gardens blue plaque
Howard Carter 19 Collingham Gardens blue plaque

Carter learned a lot by doing real work. He started as a young man in 1891. He helped record decorations in old tombs. He worked with famous experts like Flinders Petrie. Later, he became an Inspector of Monuments in Egypt.

He used new ways to search for hidden things. He even made a grid system to find tombs. This made his work very organized and careful. He wanted to protect the sites he found.

In 1907, Carter began working for Lord Carnarvon. They worked together for many years.

Howard Carter grave Putney Vale 2015
Howard Carter grave Putney Vale 2015

They searched the Valley of the Kings for many seasons. The First World War stopped their work for a while. Carter worked as a messenger during that time. He went back to digging in late 1917. By 1922, Lord Carnarvon was ready to stop. He agreed to fund just one more season of work. This was a very important choice for history.

On November 4, 1922, a worker found a stone step. This led to a doorway with a royal seal.

Egypt.KV62.01
Egypt.KV62.01

Carter made a tiny hole in the door with a chisel. He looked inside with a candle light. He saw gold and ebony treasures inside. He told Carnarvon, "Yes, wonderful things!"

Tutankhamun tomb photographs 4 326
Tutankhamun tomb photographs 4 326

They found the tomb of King Tutankhamun. It was the best-preserved tomb ever found. It held over 5,000 different items.

Carter spent ten years cataloging everything in the tomb. He moved the items to a museum in Cairo.

maison Carter
maison Carter

His work made people very excited about Egypt. This was called "Egyptomania" in places like America. Carter wrote many books about his big discovery. He also gave lectures to very large crowds. He died in 1939, but his work remains famous. People still visit the Valley of the Kings today.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Egypt.KV62.01.jpg
Egypt.KV62.01.jpg
File:Luxor, Tal der Könige (1995, 860x605).jpg
Luxor, Tal der Könige (1995, 860x605).jpg
File:Tutankhamun tomb photographs 4 326.jpg
Tutankhamun tomb photographs 4 326.jpg
File:maison Carter.jpg
maison Carter.jpg
File:Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard Carter.jpg
Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard...
File:"King Tut as I know him" by Howard Carter 1926.jpg
"King Tut as I know him" by Howard Carter 1926.jpg
File:Howard Carter grave Putney Vale 2015.jpg
Howard Carter grave Putney Vale 2015.jpg
File:Howard Carter 19 Collingham Gardens blue plaque.jpg
Howard Carter 19 Collingham Gardens blue...
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