FAMOUS EGYPTOLOGIST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23810, 17 May 1939, Page 3

FAMOUS EGYPTOLOGIST

-■■- ii- ■■ —■■ ■■'■" l TUTANKHAMEN TOMB EXPERT MR HOWARD CARTER -CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS" (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Mar. 6. Mr Howard Carter, the Egyptologist, who, with the late Earl of Carnarvon, discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen in 1922, died at his Kensington home from heart failure after several months' illness. Mr Carter's work at Luxor, where the tomb was found, attracted the attention of the whole world. Born at Swaffham (Norfolk) 65 years ago. he was educated privately, owing to his delicate state of health. When 17. he went to Egypt as a member of the British Archeeological Survey staff. His interest in archaeology aroused, he made Egyptology his life study. "CURSE OF THE PHARAOHS" He started investigations in the Valley of the Kings, where many had despairingly abandoned their quests, and his devotion to this work was rewarded with the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb. Only three people were present when, on November 5. 1922. after long searching, the sealed door of the tomb was found. The three were Mr Carter. Lord Carnavon and Mr Arthur Merton, who is the correspondent of the Daily Telegraph in Egypt and the Middle East. They removed a few stones, which enabled them to peer inside the tomb. Then they covered up the aperture, returning next day to complete the opening. "CURSE VICTIMS' "Mr Carter never had the slightest belief in the so-called 'curse of Tutankhamen,'" a friend said to a representative of the Daily Telegraph. "He became much annoyed when people mentioned it to him. He certainly outlived any 'curse' there may have been on his excavation of the tomb " Lord Carnarvon died from the effects of a mosquito bite a few weeks after the opening of the tomb. Since then talk of the "curse of Tutankhamen" has been revived each time anyone even remotely connected with the excavation has died. As many as 20 deaths have been popularly ascribed to the "curse."

Among those described as naving been victims were Mr A. C. Mace, died 1928. aged 54; Mr J. W. H. Carver, 1929; Mr Mervvn Herbert, 1930. aged 48; Mr Richard Bethell. 1931. aged 48; and Mr Arthur Weigall. 1934. aged 53. LABORIOUS WORK The Daily Telegraph says: The triumph was the result of patient, laborious work over a period of many years. The general assumption of experts In Egvot was that the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings had been cleared. Tirelessly exacavators had applied themselves before this to work which in its main aim proved profitless. Mr Carter and Lord Carnarvon refused to be discouraged and in their thoroughness decided that their excavations, instead of being confined to the surface, must go down to bedrock. The great dumps left by earlier excavators had to be cleared, and this task, systematically carried out. entailed the removal of between 150.000 and 200,000 tons of earth. STEPS CUT IN ROCKS But the rewards were slow in coming. Small discoveries of interesting objects were made, but only by the greatest patience was victory attained. In November, 1922. Mr Carter suddenly came on steps that had been cut ages before in the rock. They led to a wall bearing an ancient royal seal, and before long a sealed doorway was revealed. Beyond this lay another door, which, when broken open, showed the wonderful treasures of a tomb that had been concealed in the rock for more than 3000 years. The statues. representations of animals in gold, chairs, chariots, vases and the great wealth of picturesque ornaments that were exposed to view left the explorers dazzled and spellbound. In the weeks that followed Mr Carter directed activities of an important kind. Electric light was introduced, precautions were taken to guard against the decay of any of thp ancient treasures, catalogues were prepared. And throughout this lengthy task Mr Carter knew that other secrets lay beyond. For a further door had still to be opened that led to an annexe. CURIOSITY STIFLED It was in every way characteristic of Howard Carter that the remaining secret should be disregarded, and all curiosity stifled, until the first discovery had been dealt with. Not until nearly three months had elapsed was everything cleared, and then, while the world waited excitedly for news, an entrance was effected. The new discoveries were even more wonderful. One chamber after an*

other contained treasures of exquisite craftsmanship and fabulous value, with a wall of solid gold, shrines and the great sarcophagus. Several years were devoted to the recovery of the treasures, which were accommodated in the Cairo Museum. The discoveries provided abundant material for the study of the customs of ancient Egypt and people from every country flocked to the scene, paying a heavy fee for the privilege of visiting the tomb. This was by no means the only tomb unearthed by Mr Carter, for he had devoted practically all his adult life to archaeological exploration. Born at Swaffham, Norfolk, he was the youngest son of Samuel John Carter, an animal painter, whose artistic gifts he inherited. He was only 17 when he went to Egypt as a member of the staff engaged on the Egyptian Exploration Fund's archffiological survey, and in the years that followed the work became with him a passion. He learned eagerly from all the great archaeologists he met and devoted himself to excavations with enthusiasm. In 1892, on behalf of Lord Amherst of Hackney, he assisted Sir Flinders

Petrie in his work at Tel-el-Amarna and in the following year became a draughtsman in the six years Deir-eJ Bahari campaign.' Mr Carter's great ability made a deep impression, and he was responsible for many noteworthy achievements. He became Inspector-general of the Egyptian Government's Antiquities Department, and under Sir William Garstin and Sir Gaston Maspero reorganised the antiquity administration for Upper Egypt. Then came his remarkable association with the Earl of Carnarvon. Mr Carter was unmarried.