The Egyptian Exhibition
The Tomb of Tutankhamun, "The Boy King", is one of the most dazzling and wonderful archaeological discoveries ever made.
The two names linked with the historic find are those of Carnarvon and Carter.
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon had participated in and funded excavations in Egypt from 1907 until his death in 1923.
Fascinated with Egypt and its archaeology, he had first worked alone in 1907 and discovered nothing more than a mummified cat,
now in the Cairo Museum. His efforts and patronage over 15 years culminated in the famous encoded telegram sent on November 5th from Howard Carter
to Lord Carnarvon:
"At last have made wonderful discovery in valley - a magnificent tomb with seals intact; recovered same for your arrival. Congratulations Carter."
Private Collection
Now housed in part of the old cellars in Highclere Castle is an impressive private exhibition of ancient Egyptian finds accumulated from excavations
in Thebes and Balamun by the 5th Earl and Howard Carter between 1907 and 1913.
An additional gallery of photo-graphs recalls their discovery in 1922 of the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon's fascination with Egypt followed a series of motor accidents, as a result of which he was advised to spend
winters in a warm climate due to damage to his lungs. He went to the Winter Palace in Luxor and found a new fascination in the relics of the past.
His initial excavations were in the region of Thebes. At first he worked alone, but was advised to employ Howard Carter, who had resigned
as Chief Inspector of the Egyptian Antiquities Service in 1905.
In their first joint project, from 1907 until 1911, they found a series of important and very interesting private burials in the valley temple of
Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri.
Artefacts presented to Newbury Museum
The Earl returned from this expedition with a coffin and other objects which he presented to Newbury Museum. It is now once more
at Highclere on loan to the Egyptian Exhibition. He also brought back three wooden jewel boxes, a fragment of a faience hippopotamus and
many other small objects, which formed the basis of his antiquaries collection.
The 1912 expedition uncovered further treasure with the discovery of a hoard of silver jewellery from the end of the Pharoah's rule (the
Ptolemaic period, 330-304BC) at Tell el-Balamun. A year later, the expedition found its first royal tomb, the burial of Amenhotep I (1525-1504BC),
ancestors of Tutankhamun.
The Valley of the Kings
In 1915, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter won the concession to explore the greatest archaeo-logical hunting ground of Egypt, the Valley of the Kings,
a 40 acre site. Carter was already well acquainted with the Valley of the Kings and had begun exploratory excavations of the New Kingdom tombs.
From 1916 to 1920 little more was uncovered apart from 6 of a set of 13 alabaster jars which had contained oils used in the mummification of Merenptah
(1213-1204BC), the ruler of Egypt four generations after Tutankhamun. The Countess of Carnarvon was present on this expedition and was so excited
she helped dig them up from the mud with her bare hands.
Winter Expedition of 1922
The winter expedition of 1922 was the greatest and also the last for the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. Following Howard Carter's now-famous telegram,
Lord Carnarvon and his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert arrived in Luxor on November 23rd 1922. They were met with great ceremony by the Governor
of Qena province and Howard Carter. Over the next 2 days, rubble was cleared from the sloping passageway of the tomb. Carter was at last able to knock
a hole through the door.
From the official records, only Carter, Carnarvon and Lady Evelyn saw the tomb at the moment of its discovery. As the gap was widened, they began to see
the antechamber, packed with chariots, statues, furniture and gold, "everywhere the glint of gold". Further inside the antechamber was a gilded door
leading to the shrine of the boy king Tutankhamun.
The Exhibition...
The Egyptian Exhibition at Highclere Castle is open when the Castle is open to the public. Click here for Public Opening Times and here for Admission Prices.
