On 26 November 1922 Howard Carter gazed into the darkness of a newly-discovered tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Can you see anything? Lord Carnarvon, his companion and sponsor asked him. ‘Yes,’ Carter replied, ‘wonderful things.’

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This year marks the centenary of perhaps the greatest archaeological discovery in history. At the end of 1922, the world was astonished by the news from Thebes in Egypt. After years of searching, a discovery of the most extraordinary nature was made in the Valley of the Kings.

In this episode, the renowned Egyptologist and scholar Toby Wilkinson takes us back to a story that is still as magnetic and magical as ever: the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb.

As ever, there is much more about this episode on our website: tttpodcast.com

Toby Wilkinson’s new book, Tutankhamun’s Trumpet: the story of Ancient Egypt in 100 Objects has just been released in hardback by Picador.

Show notes

Scene One: The summer of 1922, Highclere Castle. Howard Carter visits Lord Carnarvon.

Scene Two: 4 November 1922. The Valley of the Kings. The discovery of the first step.

Scene Three: 26 November 1922. The Valley of the Kings. The opening of the tomb.

Memento: The water jug that Hussein Abdel Rasoul set down in the sand of the Valley of the Kings on the morning of 4 November 1922.

People/Social

Presenter: Peter Moore

Guest: Toby Wilkinson

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Ace Cultural Tours

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