The Appeal., 1923-01-13
SHEDS new LIGHT
ON EGYPTOLOGY
Unearthing Of Royal Tomb Great
est Archaeological Discovery
of Modern Times. =
sHPUlCHERs CUT IN HILLS
Tomb Of Tutankhamen. 1850 .. c.,
Not Only Yields Vast Treasures,
but 10 Expected to Reveal
''--> Historical Lore. - :. +

Historical Lore. -. -
London.-That the recent unearths
ing Of q royal tomb near Luxor Is the
greatest archaeological discovery in
Egypt In modern times already Ia GER
tain How great, In the light which
1t throws on the vanished civilization
that has made the wisdom Of Egypt
proverbial down all the ages, the dis
covery may prove to- be--this remains
for the secret Of the still unopened
inner chamber to reveal. -.
The story Of the discovery, made
by the earl Of Carnarvon, whose
wealth has enabled him to devote
himself to the costly hobby Of
Egyptology, and Howard Carter, per-
haps the finest living archaeological
draughtsman, reads like romance.
The valley Of the tombs Of the kings,
where the find was made. is a desert
ravine lying behind the barren cliffs
and hills, which form the mighty
walls of the Nile valley on the west
ern bank Of the river, some $50 miles
above Cairo. .. .....-....... D. 49,.
- sepulehers Cut in Hills.
Here the Pharaohs Of the eight
eenth, nineteenth and twentieth
dynasties, covering the period from
about 1860 to 1890 b. c., were laid
to rest In sepulchers cut into the
sides Of the hills, the burial chambers
being deep down in the solid rock, ap-
proached by flights Of steps and cor
ridors. generally ornamented by rich
wall paintings and bas-reliefs. The
existence Of these tombs has been the
common knowledge of all the CEN
turies. though the precise location Of
each has not been known. For 1000
or 5000 years robbers have been busy
with their treasures. III. . T.
But for more than generation past
Mr.. Carter's faith that tourists In
Thebes were, stepping over priceless
treasures In the bowels Of the earth
has not faltered, despite all that is
known Of the past rifing Of the ia.
nous site. The beginning2of the story
Of the discovery goes back 33 years,
when he began searching the Theban
metropolis for a key to ancient Egypt.
In that period he found a number Of
minor prizes, but since Lord Canarvon
Joined forces with him IL years ago
the discovery of the Hyksos tablet was
their greatest reward-up to the pres
ent. -
Recently, after four days work In
the heart Of the small sacred basin
he and his party unearthed q step.
Continued digging resulted in the ex.
cavation of stairway which led right
beneath the tomb of Rameses TX, an
unimportant king, who lived some
5000 years ago. At Its foot was
door inscribed with the protocol Of
another Pharaoh, Tutankhamen, one
of the most important kings Of Egypt.
1t was the one remaining tomb of
which there had been any hope of
finding in the valley of the tombs of
the kings. ..+.. ...~.- As - ...
But the opening of the tomb showed
that the excavators had stumbled
upon discovery Of unprecedented
Importance. No, other royal tomb that
has been opened in Egypt has con-
tanned such treasures as the tomb of
Tutankhamen gave up. The lights of
the searchers shone upon an age-old
collection Of gems and gold and ala
baster-a collection which would
fetch upward of $15,0OO,OOO in any
salesroom. But the value of the dis
covery was not to be stated In terms
Of money. ia. -. . is.
Third Chamber Not Entered.
The tomb was a treasury Of the
glories Of the Egyptian court Of 1850
B. @. There were gilt couehes inlaid
with ivory and jewels; there was the
kings throne and the kings robes.
Two statues showed him In his habit
as he lived. Chariots were there for
the dead Pharaohs riding. masses OF
food for his eating; musical instru.
ments, documents. 1.
The state Of the outer chambers
showed that the tomb had been dis
turbed at least once. In the past.
In the third chamber may (and, It
10 hoped. does) rest the mummy Of
Tutankhamen himself. This third
chamber has not yet been entered.
The tomb has been sealed again until
Lord Carnarvon, who has returned to
England, goes back with a picked
band Of experts to supervise the re-
nloval to the museum at Cairo. Then
the secret Of the inner chamber will
be disclosed. - $40