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Kids learn about the history of Ancient Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Educational articles for teachers, students, and schools including religion, art, daily life, people and kings, Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, Persia, city-states, science, and more.

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Led by Ur, the Sumerians again spread their rule far westward. During Ur's supremacy (about 2150 to 2050 BC) Sumerian culture reached its highest development. Shortly thereafter the cities lost their independence forever, and gradually the Sumerians completely disappeared as a people. Their language, however, lived on as the language of culture.

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School sessions and resources for ages 7–11 (KS2).

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Tutankhamun's tomb is located in the Valley of the Kings and is by far the best preserved royal tomb ever discovered. The tomb, which was thought to be left intact, was believed to be robbed twice. Even though this tomb revealed treasure beyond our imagination, it was modestly furnished compared to the pharaohs before and after Tutankhamun's time.

This "humble" tomb had remained hidden for 3000 years and had eluded tomb robbers and flash floods for many centuries. With the odds stacked against finding this tomb, the discovery of this tomb was brought to light through Theodore M. Davis who was an American business man.

Davis was the first person to find items that led to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. His first clue came from a famous cache (a group of royal funerary objects from Tell el Amarna that were brought to Thebes to escape destruction). These items were hidden in a safe tomb, and according to the clay sealing of the cache, it was done by Tutankhamun himself. Some Egyptologists believe this royal cache was probably stored by tomb robbers who hoped to find the treasure later. Among these treasures, furniture that belonged to Tutankhamun was found there too. In addition, there were other clues that gave some insight to the existence of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

More clues were found inside a small pit in 1907. This pit provided seal impressions of Tutankhamun along with many embalming materials such as linen bags, natron, and broken pottery. These findings were overlooked and sent to New York where they underwent examination.

Theodore also discovered a faience cup with King Tut's name upon it. Close to this cup and under a large piece of stone, Mr. Davis found fragments of gold foil with Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun (King Tut's wife) inlaid upon it. These clues were disregarded by Davis. It wasn't until later an Egyptologist, named Howard Carter, who worked with Davis during his excavations found the items to be very interesting.

After studying and examining these items, Carter was convinced that King Tut's tomb lay inside the Valley of the Kings. Howard Carter quickly went to Lord Carnarvon, his long time friend, to finance his search for Tutankhamun's tomb. Carnarvon reviewed the evidence and agreed that the tomb might still be there. They were given the concession to dig in 1914 but had to abandon the dig due to World War I.

After the war had died down they resumed the dig. Like Davis they turned up without Tutankhamun's tomb and Carnarvon started to run low on funds. Carnarvon was ready to give up and abandon the project. Carter persisted that Tutankhamun 's tomb had to be hidden, so he pleaded for one more season of digging. He promised Carnarvon if nothing turned up, he would pay for the dig himself. Carnarvon agreed and digging began again on November 1, 1921.

They began this project by digging close to Ramesses VI's tomb. While there, the workers were told to remove an Ancient workman's hut. As they took down this hut a step was found.

Carter quickly ordered the steps to be cleared of sand and debris and by noon the next day the doorway was revealed. This door was stamped with the seal of the royal necropolis. The Necropolis seal depicted Anubis standing above five defeated enemies. Carter quickly sent a telegram to Carnarvon which said, "At last have made wonderful discovery in valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact; re-covered same for your arrival; congratulations."

Carnarvon and his daughter, Lady Evelyn Herbert, quickly left for Egypt to arrive in Alexandria on November 23rd. Once they reached the Archeological spot, they were met by Howard Carter and his assistant, A. R. Callender. They quickly removed the ruble from the 16 steps to show Carnarvon and his daughter the discovery. Both Lady Evelyn and Lord Carnarvon saw the royal stamp of Tutankhamun and the necropolis.

The next day Cater started to drill a hole into the plaster door. In the foreground, Carter, Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn, and Callender waited anxiously. Carter made the hole in the upper left-hand corner and started to chip away at the opening. As the hole became larger, it allowed him to peer inside. Carter held the candle into the darkness and permitted his eyes to adjust to the warm ancient air that exited the tomb. This air made the candle flicker.

The gold furniture became illuminated by the small candle. Carter stood frozen and looked with amazement. Lord Carnarvon who waited anxiously for any news quickly exclaimed, "Can you see anything?" Carter replied with, "Yes, wonderful things."

They made the hole large enough to squeeze by and they all entered the tomb. They stepped carefully down into the first room. The air was warm and a faint smell of perfume and oil filled the air. To them, the tomb looked as if it had remained intact as the day it had been sealed. Carter held up the candle that flickered frantically as they moved about the tomb viewing all the objects. As the candle lit the room to a small glow, three animal couches were visible. As they searched about, Lady Evelyn turned her light to the left and a pile of broken chariots littered the room. Carter explained that tomb robbers had most probably thrashed the chariots in search of gold. At the end of the room and to their right two statuesque guards could be seen. They were life-sized statues of the king holding maces and staffs. With so much excitement they all agreed to explore more of the remaining tomb the next day.

The next day, Callender came prepared with electric lights and they were setup inside the tomb. This allowed the four of them to explore the tomb more freely.

The tomb was eventually excavated and heavily photographed and this excavation consumed many years of Carter's life. He eventually died in 1939. Now its contents lay inside the Cairo Museum. The treasure toured the world during the 1970's and the second tour began in 2005.

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the_ad id="1415″] Tutankhamun's tomb is located in the Valley of the Kings and is by far the best preserved royal tomb ever discovered. The tomb, which was thought to be left intact, was believed to be robbed twice. Even though...Read more The Discovery Of King Tut's Tomb ›

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In 1907, Egyptologist and archaeologist Howard Carter was hired by George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon to oversee excavations in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Carter had built a reputation for scrupulously recording and preserving discoveries.

Carter searched the valley for years with little to show for it, which drew the ire of his employer. In 1922, Lord Carnarvon told Carter that he had only one more season of digging before his funding would be ended.

Revisiting a previously abandoned dig site at a group of huts, Carter started digging again, desperate for a breakthrough.

On Nov. 4, 1922, his crew discovered a step carved into the rock. By the end of the next day, a whole staircase had been uncovered. Carter wired Carnarvon, imploring him to come at once.

On Nov. 26, with Carnarvon at his side, Carter chipped open a small breach in the corner of the doorway at the end of the stairs. Holding a candle, he peered inside.

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1922: The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb - in color

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In 1907, Egyptologist and archaeologist Howard Carter was hired by George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon to oversee excavations in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. Carter had built a reputation for scrupulously recording and preserving discoveries. Carter searched the valley for years with little to show for it, which drew the ire of his employer.

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BBC - History - Ancient History in depth: Treasures of Tutankhamun Gallery

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One of archaeology's greatest finds, by Robert Partridge

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The Discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb for Kids

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History >> Ancient Egypt

During the thousands of years that have past since the pharaohs were buried in their tombs, treasure hunters and thieves have snuck into the tombs and taken nearly all of the treasure. However, in 1922 one tomb was discovered that was mostly untouched and was filled with treasure. It was the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Where is King Tut's tomb?

The tomb is in theValley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt. This was where the Pharaohs and powerful nobles were buried for around 500 years during the history of Ancient Egypt.

Who found the tomb?

By 1914 many archeologists believed that all of the Pharaoh's tombs in the Valley of the Kings had been found. However, one archeologist named Howard Carter didn't agree. He thought that the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was still undiscovered.

Carter searched the Valley of the Kings for five years finding little. The man funding his search, Lord Carnarvon, became frustrated and nearly stopped paying for Carter's search. Carter convinced Carnarvon to pay for one more year. The pressure was on. Carter had one more year to find something.

In 1922, after six years of searching, Howard Carter found a step underneath some old workmen's huts. He soon uncovered a stairway and the door to King Tut's tomb. What would be inside it? Would it be empty like all the other tombs found before?

Howard Carter inspecting the mummy of Tutankhamun
Tut's Tomb from the New York Times

What was found in the tomb?

Once inside the tomb, Carter found rooms filled with treasure. This included statues, gold jewelry, Tutankhamun's mummy, chariots, model boats, canopic jars, chairs, and paintings. It was an amazing discovery and one of the most important made in the history of archeology. In all, there were over 5,000 objects in the tomb. It took Carter and his team ten years to catalog everything.

Tutanhkamun tomb statue
by Jon Bodsworth

Golden funeral mask of king Tutankhamun
by Jon Bodsworth

How big was the tomb?

The tomb was fairly small for a Pharaoh. Archeologists believe that it was built for an Egyptian noble, but was used for Tutankhamun when he died at a young age.

The tomb had four main rooms: the antechamber, burial chamber, annex, and treasury.

The antechamber was the first room that Carter entered. Among its many items included three funeral beds and the pieces of four chariots.

The burial chamber contained the sarcophagus and King Tut's mummy. The mummy was contained in three nested coffins. The final coffin was made of solid gold.

The treasury contained the king's canopic chest which held his organs. There were also many treasures such as gilded statues and model boats.

The annex was full of all sorts of objects including board games, oils, and dishes.

Map of Tutankhamun's Tomb by Ducksters

Was there really a curse?

At the time that King Tut's tomb was opened, many people thought that there was a curse that would affect anyone who invaded the tomb. When Lord Carnarvon died from a mosquito bite a year after entering the tomb, people were sure the tomb was cursed.

Soon rumors began to spread that increased the belief and fear of the curse. Newspapers reported a curse inscribed on the door of the tomb. A story was told that Howard Carter's pet canary was eaten by a cobra on the day he entered the tomb. It was also said that 13 of the 20 people who were present at the opening of the burial chamber died within a few years.

However, these were all just rumors. When scientists look at the number of people who died within 10 years of first entering the tomb, it is the same number as would normally be expected.

Fun Facts about King Tut's Tomb

Because it was so hot in Egypt, archeologists only worked during the winter season.

The tomb is given the designation KV62. The KV stands for Valley of the Kings and the 62 is because it was the 62nd tomb found there.

King Tut's gold mask was made with 22 pounds of gold.

The treasures from King Tut's tomb traveled throughout the world during the Treasures of Tutankhamun tour from 1972 to 1979.

Today, most of the treasures are exhibited at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt.

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History >> Ancient Egypt

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Ancient Egyptian History for Kids: King Tut's Tomb

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History >> Ancient Egypt During the thousands of years that have past since the pharaohs were buried in their tombs, treasure hunters and thieves have snuck into the tombs and taken nearly all of the treasure. However, in 1922 one tomb was discovered that was mostly untouched and was filled with treasure.