The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-06-22
DIG 80 YEARS
FOR KING TUT
Carter and His Aids Defy Torrid
Heat, Wild Beasts and In
sect Plague in Search.
Do you think what they got
was worth digging SO years
for7

Valley of the Kings. Luxor, Egypt
While the world has been following
with undated interest and curiosity
We wonderful archaeological discov-
cries In the Valley of the Kings, little
thought has been given to the years
OF toll, research and patience given
~ archaeoiogists in these far-off
ruins
1t is perhaps little understood that
the recent unearthing of the tomb of
King Tut-Ankh-Amen by Howard Car
ter. British excavator, represents
continuous effort of 33 years of re-
search and excavation. Carter began
digging on the site of Thebes the an
cient capital of Egypt, when he was
eighteen and has never ceased his Ia
bars.
He was never rich enough to con-
duct his own excavations, but has In
variably worked for others. Some OF
his most notable work was done under
Theodore M. Davis of Boston, who
from 1907 to 1914 discovered six royal
tombs and a wealth of rare and valu-
able antiquities. In more recent years
Garter has been associated with Lord
C8rnarvOn, who financed the excavat-
ing work of Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb,
Garter has derived no pecuniary re-
ward from his years Of research.
American visitors at the newly found
tomb have remarked that the now
famous excavator wears the same suit
Of clothes, the same hat and shoes,
daily, Sunday, and throughout the
year.
Called Modern Hermits.
Carriers devotion and labors in the
cause of Psychological science are
typical of the example of all excava-
tors, British, American and French, |
In the ancient ruins of Egypt. These |
men may be described as modern |
hermits in this 5,000-year-old Valley |
OF the Kings. They lead a one-sided |
and narrow existence. Cut off from
all civilizing and uplifting influences,
the score or more of them who COM
prise the foreign colonies Of Luxor
move within narrow groove and sell
dom even come in contact with one
another.
The Valley of the Kings and the
Theban hills, $50 miles up the Nile
rom Cairo, are infested with wolves,
ackals, wildcats, foxes, snakes,
md vermin. The archaeologists live
n unpretentious stone and mortar
houses with nothing but the barest
'ough-hewn furniture and the most
,r1mitive household equipment. The
house occupied by the American ex-
,erts was built through the generos-
ty of the late J. Pierpont Morgan,
Who was moved to pity by their priva-
ions and exposure.
Plague of Flies and Insects.
The natives of the valley are pathet-
caily poor and untutored. Food Is
carce and expensive. Water, where
exists at all, has to be brought from
far in hand buckets. The nights are
old and fuel is difficult to obtain. The
he day, and the entire area is
lagued with flies and pernicious in
ects.
The American visitor to the cav
rnous valley which holds the impevial
cad Of bygone ages is overawed by
1e majesty and dignity of the great
recipltous sandstone cliffs that stand
antinel on either side of the necrop- 8
lis. He is reminded of the heights of .
lie Grand Canyon of the Colorado, or ;
Yellowstone falls, when the noon f
ny sun transforms them into a gold
] valley. :
Sleeping In the heart of these noun
fns are Tut-Ankh-Amen and his royal
nsfolk. Some Of the tombs go down
70 feet and extend back a distance
three city blocks. The ancients be- b
sved these were the portals to h
,aven and everlasting life. v
Ii