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Chapter 2 Primary Source Activity 29
The 1920s were an exciting time for archaeology. In Egypt,
British archaeologist HowardCarter made a stunning discoverythe
almost-untouched tomb of young KingTutankhamen (textbook page 27).
Carters discovery came after years of unsuccessfulexcavations in
the Valley of the Kings. By November 1922, he was about to give
up,when his workers cleared the rubble from a stairway in a rock
cliff and found a treasure.This is Carters own story. u As you
read, think about what a discovery like this one can tellpeople
about the past. Then, on a separate sheet of paper, answer the
questions that follow.
Name___________________________________________________ Class
______________________ Date ___________________
Primary Source ActivityChapter 2
At first I could see nothing, the hot air escapingfrom the
chamber causing the candle flame toflicker, but presently, as my
eyes grew accustomed tothe light, details of the room within
emerged slowlyfrom the mist, strange animals, statues, and
goldeverywhere the glint of gold.
For the moment . . . I was struckdumb with amazement, and
whenLord Carnarvon [sponsor of theexpedition], unable to stand
thesuspense any longer, inquired anx-iously, Can you see anything?
itwas all I could do to get out thewords, Yes, wonderful
things!Then widening the hole a little fur-ther, so that we both
could see, weinserted an electric torch [flash-light].
. . . Gradually the scene grewclearer, and we could pick out
indi-vidual objects. First, right oppositeto us . . . were three
great gilt couches, their sidescarved in the form of monstrous
animals [leopards].. . . Next, on the right, two statues caught and
heldour attention: two life-sized figures of a king inblack, facing
each other like sentinels, gold kilted,gold sandalled, armed with
mace and staff, the pro-
tective sacred cobra upon their foreheads.These were the
dominant objects that caught the
eye at first. Between them, around them, piled ontop of them,
there were countless othersexquisitelypainted and inlaid caskets;
alabaster vases, . . .strange black shrines, from the open door of
one a
great gilt snake peeping out; . . .chairs beautifully carved; a
goldeninlaid throne; . . . on the left a con-fused pile of
overturned chariots,glistening with gold and inlay. . . .
. . . Presently it dawned uponour bewildered brains that in
allthis medley of objects before usthere was no coffin or trace of
amummy. . . . We re-examined thescene before us and noticed for
thefirst time that between the twoblack sentinel statues on the
rightthere was another sealed doorway.The explanation gradually
dawned
upon us. We were but on the threshold of our dis-covery. What we
saw was merely an antechamber[entrance hall].
Source: The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen by Howard Carter andA. C. Mace
(Cassell, 1927).
1. What was Carters first impression on lookinginto the
room?
2. Describe some of the objects Carter could seein the tomb.
3. Predicting Consequences What importantobject was missing?
What conclusion did thearchaeologists draw from this?
4. Activity From Carters description and yourown ideas, plan an
archaeological dig. List theequipment you would need (for
example,shovels and flashlights) and then describe howyou would
make plans for the expedition. Youmay want to read another
archaeologists storyof his or her work.
Questions to Think About
Finding King Tuts Tomb
CHAPTER
2
I was struck
dumb with
amazement , , ,
unable to stand
the suspense , , ,
