On this day in 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter opened the sealed doorway to the burial chamber of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. The moment marked the first time in over three thousand years that the chamber had been entered. With financier Lord Carnarvon present, Carter peered through a small breach and famously declared that he saw “wonderful things.”
The discovery rapidly became a global sensation, revealing a nearly intact tomb filled with extraordinary treasures: gilded statues, jewelry, chariots, ritual objects, and the iconic gold funerary mask. The find significantly advanced Egyptology by providing a preserved snapshot of royal life, death rituals, and craftsmanship during the Eighteenth Dynasty.
The opening on November 26 continues to be remembered as one of archaeology’s greatest milestones. The artifacts, now housed largely in Cairo, remain emblematic of ancient Egypt’s enduring cultural and scientific fascination worldwide.
Sources & Further Reading:
– The Griffith Institute, Oxford University
– Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities
– Howard Carter Excavation Journals
(One of many On-This-Day stories brought to you by Headcount Coffee — where history meets the morning cup.)
