Archaeologist that unearthed Tutankhamun’s tomb stole artifacts from it, new evidence suggests

New evidence reveals that Howard Carter, the archaeologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb, may have stolen treasure.

The sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun displayed in his burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings.The sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun displayed in his burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings. Credit: Nᴀsser Nouri, via Flickr

Howard Carter and his team were the first to enter Tutankhamun’s tomb, the most famous Egyptian tomb ever discovered, in 1922. The tomb was large, containing hundreds of treasures including gilded beds, miniature golden statues, and elaborate amulets designed to protect the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in their final resting place.

However, rumors circulated that Carter had taken more than just fame from the discovery between the time he entered the tomb and Egyptian officials opened the tomb.

A previously unseen letter has now emerged, alleging that Mr Carter may have stolen some items from the site. According to The Guardian, Mr Carter showed Sir Alan a “whm amulet” and apparently ᴀssured him that it had not come from Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The whm amulet is ᴀssumed to be an offering to the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, buried with the Pharaoh because the Egyptians believed the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ could be supported by riches, as well as acting as offerings to the gods.

Despite Carter’s claims, recent evidence suggests that the amulet was most likely stolen from the tomb. According to previously unpublished letters, Gardiner got it appraised by museum expert Rex Engelbach and was shocked to discover the amulet was almost certainly stolen.

“The whm amulet you showed me has been undoubtedly stolen from the tomb of Tutankhamun,” states Engelbach’s verdict.

In a letter to Mr. Carter, he enclosed the director’s verdict. It read: “The whm amulet you showed me has been undoubtedly stolen from the tomb of Tutankhamun.”

Related: king Tutankhamun and the discovery of his mysterious tomb

Despite the obvious guilt placed on him by owning a stolen artifact, he stated that he never disclosed Engelbach how he obtained the amulet.

“I deeply regret having been placed in so awkward a position,” Sir Alan wrote to Mr Carter. “I naturally did not tell Engelbach [the director] that I obtained the amulet from you.”

The letters will be published by Oxford University Press in a new book тιтled Tutankhamun and the Tomb that Changed the World.

Following Carter’s death, 18 objects from the tomb were found in his collection. Fearing damage to relations between England and Egypt, the objects were sold discreetly to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo; all items have now been returned to Egypt.

Tags: Ancient EgyptTutankhamun

Related Posts

Lighthouse of Alexandria rises again as 22 mᴀssive blocks resurface from the seafloor after 2,000 years

Lighthouse of Alexandria rises again as 22 mᴀssive blocks resurface from the seafloor after 2,000 years

After centuries underwater, 22 huge stone blocks of the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, have been recovered from the…

Rare medieval knight tombstone discovered in heart of Gdańsk

Rare medieval knight tombstone discovered in heart of Gdańsk

A team of archaeologists from ArcheoScan has unearthed a unique medieval tombstone depicting a knight during an excavation in the historic center of Gdańsk, Poland. The tombstone…

Roman cavalry swords lead to discovery of Iron Age settlement and possible Roman villa in Gloucestershire

Roman cavalry swords lead to discovery of Iron Age settlement and possible Roman villa in Gloucestershire

A recent archaeological discovery near Willersey, Gloucestershire, has uncovered an Early Iron Age to Roman-period settlement following the discovery by a novice metal detectorist of two extremely…

Copper Age infant discovered in Italian well reveals rare genetic origins

Copper Age infant discovered in Italian well reveals rare genetic origins

Archaeologists in northeastern Italy have discovered a remarkable find in a well near Faenza, close to Ravenna: the highly degraded remains of an infant who lived 4,000…

Fisherman uncovers remarkably preserved medieval sword in Warsaw’s Vistula River

Fisherman uncovers remarkably preserved medieval sword in Warsaw’s Vistula River

In an unprecedented and rare find, a sword dating back to the medieval period was pulled out of the bottom of the Vistula River by a fisherman…

Ancient sloth bone from Uruguay shows signs of possible human-inflicted trauma 33,000 years ago

Ancient sloth bone from Uruguay shows signs of possible human-inflicted trauma 33,000 years ago

Researchers have discovered evidence of human interaction with megafauna considerably earlier than the widely accepted arrival of humans in South America. A 33,000-year-old right calcaneus (heel bone)…