Howard Carter

Egypt.KV62.01

Luxor, Tal der Könige (1995, 860x605)

maison Carter

Manuel Rosenberg signed sketch of Howard Carter

"King Tut as I know him" by Howard Carter 1926

Howard Carter (9 May 1874 – 2 March 1939) was a British archaeologist and Egyptologist who achieved worldwide fame after discovering the intact tomb of the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh, Tutankhamun (colloquially known as "King Tut" and "the boy king"), in November 1922. The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, with its wealth of artifacts, has given Carter a lasting legacy as one of the most well-known figures in the history of Ancient Egypt.

Early Life

Howard Carter was born in Kensington, London, the son of Samuel John Carter, an artist, and Martha Joyce (Sands) Carter. He showed early artistic talent and was largely educated at home due to poor health. Carter's artistic skills led to his early involvement in Egyptology when he was hired by the Egypt Exploration Fund to assist in the recording of tomb decorations in Egypt.

Career in Egypt

Carter's career in Egypt began in 1891, at the age of 17, when he was sent to Egypt by the Egypt Exploration Fund to assist Percy Newberry in the excavation and recording of Middle Kingdom tombs at Beni Hasan. Over the next few years, Carter worked on several archaeological sites in Egypt, honing his skills in excavation and recording.

In 1899, Carter was appointed the Inspector-General of Monuments for Upper Egypt by the Egyptian Antiquities Service, where he was responsible for supervising and controlling excavations across the region. However, his career faced a setback in 1905 following a dispute with French tourists, which led to his resignation.

Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb

The most significant event in Carter's career came in 1922, with the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Carter was working for Lord Carnarvon, who financed the excavations. After several years of fruitless searching, Carter's team discovered steps leading to the tomb's entrance on 4 November 1922. By 26 November, they had breached the tomb's antechamber, and Carter made the famous "wonderful things" remark upon peering through a hole into the tomb for the first time.

The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb was a significant event in the history of archaeology and Egyptology, providing a wealth of artifacts and information about the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. Carter spent the next decade documenting and conserving the artifacts found within the tomb.

Later Life and Legacy

After the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb, Carter retired from active excavation and became a part-time agent for collectors and museums. He also toured the United States, giving lectures about Egypt and the discovery of the tomb. Carter died of lymphoma in London on 2 March 1939 at the age of 64.

Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb has had a lasting impact on the field of Egyptology and has captured the public imagination for nearly a century. His work has contributed significantly to our understanding of Ancient Egyptian culture and history.