Howard Carter diary entries detail the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun tomb

Howard Carter recorded the discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun in his personal excavation journals starting on 4 November 1922, as reported by cristinaiglesias.com. The British archaeologist initially noted the finding with the short entry, first steps of tomb found. Within three weeks of this initial finding, he breached the sealed entrance of the site in the Valley of the Kings. [1][3][4]

The excavation of the burial site, designated as tomb KV62, uncovered more than 5,000 artefacts alongside the pharaoh, according to cristinaiglesias.com. The private diary entries document the physical exertion, personal doubts, and unrecorded details that were omitted from official public announcements at the time. The original paper documents are preserved in the archives of the Griffith Institute at the University of Oxford. [1][4]

Tutankhamun was an Eighteenth Dynasty ruler of ancient Egypt. The tomb consists of an entrance staircase, a corridor, and four separate chambers. Research indicates the tomb was likely intended for a non-royal individual initially and was modified for Tutankhamun following his premature death, which accounts for its smaller scale compared to other royal burial sites. [3][4]

The burial site contained a dense collection of funerary items and personal belongings, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, and coffins packed closely within the limited space. The discovery remains recognised as the best-preserved pharaonic tomb ever located in the Valley of the Kings. [3][4]