Tutankhamun: The Greatest Archaeological Discovery of All Time

On November 4th 1922 a breathless archaeologist, who had spent his life working in Egypt, wrote a hurried diary entry: “First steps of Tomb Found”. This was the very moment that Howard Carter found the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun.

In this very special film, shot in Egypt and England, Dan Snow commemorates the centenary of the most famous archaeological discovery of them all - walking in the footsteps of Howard Carter as he retraces the story of the discovery, from the beginnings of Carter’s career as a
young artist recording reliefs in Hatshepsut’s magnificent temple, to the house he built especially close to the Valley of the Kings thanks to the support of Lord Carnarvon.

The History Hit team has gained access to key places associated with this historic story: Highclere Castle, home of Lord Carnarvon; Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and his famous golden treasures in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, which we explore with conservator Eid Murtah.

And Dan discovers that there is another side to this story, revealed in Oxford - Howard Carter’s extensive records are stored here. Dan gets up close to key objects in the Bodleian Weston Library’s exhibition ‘Tutankhamun - Excavating the Archives’, including the famous journal entry that, as Carter first gazed into the dark of the tomb, he told Carnarvon “It is wonderful”.

In Oxford’s Griffith Archive, Dan explores the records in detail with curator Daniella Rosenow. The original glass plate negatives reveal how the tomb looked as Carter opened it, with now familiar objects covered in flowers and linens, carefully placed there as the nineteen year old pharaoh was buried in 1323 BC. It presents a very different image of the objects that we now picture cleaned up and conserved - here they are in a much more immediate moment just as Carter uncovered them. And in a beautiful additional project, Ellie Murphy, a florist from Oxford, painstakingly makes an exact recreation of the floral wreath that adorned Tutankhamun’s outer coffin. It helps remind us of the humanity at the heart of this story: the incredible dedication of the archaeological team and the death of a young pharaoh that still inspires us today.

And remember, as YouTube subscribers, you can sign up to History Hit TV today with code YOUTUBE and enjoy 50% off your first 3 months!

#historyhit #ancientegypt #kingtut

[LalaDepala_]

I have actually been to Valley of the Kings. I would recommend everyone to visit Egypt one day. I will never forget it. Walking across the old temples and pyramids. Going inside the pyramids. It was the highlight of my life probably.

[Gen-X-Memories]

Can you imagine the excitement of looking through that small initial opening with candlelight!? It had to be an incredible thing to experience!

[jenwatson]

Thank you for showing that at the beginning, everything always is shown like its all 100s of miles apart from each other.

[jarlborg]

Blows my mind to think that those floral wreaths have laid there since before the Trojan War, and pre-date pretty much all of recorded European History.

[alexquintana]

Absolutely amazing the lifetime of work Ancient Egyptians put in...all for the mythology of an afterlife.

[acbower]

This is the best channel on YT! Educational, entertaining and everything between!

Bravo!

[BMWseries]

I've seen & heard this story many times but this video was one of the best! Thanks Dan & the History Hit team. John, UK.

[Robby]

I went there in 1988 it was a very moving experience, from Cairo and the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, then to the Ciaro museum. So worth a visit.

[tinazhao]

Absolutely one of the most brilliant documentaries about King Tut. Dan Snow was so good also.

[shonquis]

The Garland Pharaoh! Such a great choice of content and imagery and passionate scholars/florists. It's about people, Egyptian workers given their names back, artists, a very young man, and lapis lazuli-colored flowers, not gold. Really beautifully done.

[ISawABear]

I've seen a bunch of the pictures of the tomb and its discovery but i've never seen the pictures of the sarcophagus covered in florals. that's really cool, thanks!

[dan]

Hands down, the best ancient Egypt documentary.

[debozebever]

Visiting highclere castle without mentioning downton Abbey, well done!

[schlooonginator]

I'm always amazed that such a grand civilization existed then effectively disappeared with very little known about it.
The giant granite stones in the Pyramids are a complete mystery.
It's hard to imagine they existed and did not continue, carrying a record of their past but no, they just disappeared like dust in the wind.

[davefellhoelter]

Got to see this in the 70's La CA as a kid, "I Will Never Forget" the color of the Gold!

[NathanHeadActor]

thanks for uploading a full film, it was fascinating, I've never seen anything like this documentary before, where a floral wreath was recreated from the sketches and photos, that was amazing to see. thanks again

[Senom]

This is such an amazing piece of information. I love ancient Egypt!

[DRUMAdam]

I think a film about the discovery of the tomb and Howard carter in the style of Oppenheimer would go down a storm

[theeutecticpoint]

Not that I don't love Mr. Snow, but that lady that walks around the desert with an umbrella/parasol is really a hoot, would love to have seen her in this as well. Delightful and fascinating work!

[SandraNelson]

The photographer was God touched. His work was ethereal, and factual. He deserves a photography museum. I wish I remembered his name.
Barton!