Earl of Carnarvon's Description of His Marvellous Discoveries in the Tomb of King Tutankhamen Cairo, December 11—The fol-Jowing account of the recent discovery in the Valley of the Kings has boom specially written for the "Morning Post'? and ''The Scotsman" by the Earl of Carnarvon and Mr. Howard Carter Primarily, the most important point is that the tomb of King Tutankhamen appears to be the first Royal tomb we have found the ends over-turned and_ sealed. Again, numbers of the caskets bear long texts, which may also help us in solving the puzzle.
THE THRONE, From the artistic point of view there are many most valuable specimens, and among them especially the chair or throne, whicn Gepicts the King and Queen under the sun's rays. It is of most ex-more or less intact. For this j yeason we are now able to tell more boll quisite workmanship, the back being or less what the funerary equip-in mosaic or carved semi-precious ment of a Royal burial comprises. stones in relief. This throne is of Unfortunately, objects of greater purely Al Amarna art, as is the intwinstic value appear to be mis-/ style of the statue. headed, hathor-headed, and typhoon rest three curious objects in forms of enkis with human arms and hands. As far as one can see they are supports to hold miniature candles or torches, and if this is the case they are the first of the type ever found and show us what means of illumination existed in those days.
BEAUTIES BEYOND DESCRIPTION, For the moment we ask the indulgence of the public, as we are innable accurately to describe these thrown everything anyhow, and objects, because the plunderer hag anywhere in his hasty search for portable objects of intrinsic value. Thus, it is impossible to give a full and accurate description until these objects have been extricated and pieced together, which necessarily will be the work of many, sing, and sere probably taken by metal robbers of the Twentieth Dynasty. Notwithstanding this, it appears that all the smaller jewellery is there and paraphernalia, comprising furniture, emblems and deities for the King's protection in the underworld, as well-as portraits, statues, chariots, chests of robes, faience vessels, chairs, bedsteads, etc.
One of the most important factors in this discovery is the fact that these objects show both the style of Akhen art as well as that of Thebes, and hence for purity of Hgyptian work some of them have never been surpassed.
The seal impressions upon the closed doorways show at least three types—those of the Royal Nec-repolls, Tutankhamen's and what appear to be household seals. (As their impressions are not altogether perfect, it will be a little time before we can decipher their real meaning, as we must compare different impressions on various doorways.
it is interesting to note that there are fragments of boxes which were found outside the entrance of the tomb bearing the double protocol of Akhenaten and King Sekhem—Ka-Ra and his wife, who was the daughter of Akhenaten, called Mertaten, Now, as these are purely sepulchral monuments and bear both protocols, it would seem that the two Kings either died or abdicated simultaneously, and that they are found in this King's tomi. indicates that Tutankhamen succeeded them immediately. As we have net yet gone carefully into these matters, however, the hypothesis may require modification, and we are trusting that on the arrival of Dr. Alan Gardiner we shal} get more important historical data, the more so when we are able to unroll and decipher the papyri iw one of the caskets. From external appearances these documents appear to be historical rather than religious, for they are rolled with Another most interesting object is a kind of dummy portrait io wood of the King. It is cut off at the waist, and has no arms, and days, involving careful examination. The beauties of many of these things are beyond description, and there also seems to be objects pre-og far as one can Judge, ae was sent unknown to archaeology. probably used for arranging the, "There is a note of pathetic in-wigs of the King, as barbers to- terest in the fact that leaning up day use figures to arrange wigs. © against one wall beside the statues Among other very interesting there is a large bouquet standing objects are about 20 staves and about three or four feet high which walking sticks. Some have handies naturally robbers had not touched. in filigree gold work, others of When we first entered these cham-inlaid barks and ivory, and others bers from the disorderly array of again with handles of ivory depict-objects we gathered the impression ing ASiatic captives. One of the that we had discovered a cache of caskets, which bears exquisite King's furniture brought from Tell Fainted scenes of the King and his Amarna, but now we feel that chariot, with his charioteers hunt-is is evident that we have dising lions, gazelle, and other ante covered a King's tomb, and that jape, contains what appears to be the sealed doorways still intact the robe of the King, covered with will prove to be the opening into elaborate mesh of beads and the sepulchral chamber or cham-gold rosettes. Under this are his ters. As it was the custom in the slippers, also ornamented with Fighteenth Dynasty not to decorate gold, and. a large amber necklace. the antechambers of the King's in a second box there are silver boomerangs, faience unguent vases, the inside chamber or chambers sepulchral hall it is probable that and what is at present believed to vill be decorated. It will also be be a corselet, comprising inlaid interesting to see how far the plaques of jewels. Others are also project of the tomb of Rameses IV, wooden shrines, containing emblems given in Turin papyrus will be of the underworld, such as serpents. confirmed by the sepulchral hall, for that papyrus evidently depicts They are of wood covered with series of nests of wooden funerary gilt, and the chariots are of open work, exquisitely embossed and canopies. covering the King's sarcophagus which appear to be encrusted with gold and semi-part of the contract of tomb con-Precious stones. As far as can be tractors when making the Royal Seen they bear the usual repre-tomb. sentations of captives, ete., such as we know from the chariots
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.