What did Howard carter find in 1922 ? Why was carter’s find so surprising?
Howard Carter found the intact tomb of Tutankhamun, the boy pharaoh, in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
Carter's find was extremely surprising for several reasons:
1. The tomb was mostly undisturbed and contained a vast amount of treasures and belongings, which provided an extraordinary insight into ancient Egyptian burial practices and the wealth of the pharaohs.
2. Tutankhamun was not a very significant pharaoh during his time, and his tomb was relatively small compared to the grander tombs of other pharaohs. Therefore, the discovery of such an intact and well-preserved tomb of a lesser-known pharaoh was unexpected.
3. The discovery of Tutankhamun's burial mask, made of solid gold and inlaid with precious stones, was a particularly astonishing find and became an iconic symbol of Ancient Egypt.
4. The tomb contained numerous artifacts, including chariots, statues, furniture, and jewels, all providing important historical and archaeological information about the ancient Egyptians.
5. Tutankhamun's tomb also led to the identification of many other tombs in the Valley of the Kings, contributing to a wealth of knowledge about the pharaohs and their burial grounds.
Overall, the completeness and richness of Tutankhamun's tomb made it an unprecedented and remarkable discovery in the field of Egyptology.
In 1922, Howard Carter discovered the tomb of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun (also known as King Tut). His find was surprising for a few reasons:
1. Intact Tomb: Carter's find was unique because the tomb remained largely intact and had not been looted by tomb robbers over the centuries. This allowed for the preservation of many precious artifacts and the opportunity to study them in their original context.
2. Wealth of Treasure: The tomb of Tutankhamun was filled with a wealth of treasures including jewelry, golden masks, chariots, statues, furniture, and various other artifacts. The amount and quality of the objects found were extraordinary.
3. Unique Historical Insight: Tutankhamun was a relatively lesser-known pharaoh who reigned for a short period during the 14th century BCE. The discovery of his tomb provided valuable insights into the art, religion, and daily life of ancient Egyptians during that time.
4. Famous Death Mask: Perhaps the most iconic discovery was the gold death mask of Tutankhamun, which instantly became a symbol of ancient Egypt and its grandeur. The mask was adorned with precious gemstones and is considered one of the most significant ancient artifacts ever found.
Overall, Carter's find was surprising because it shed new light on an era in ancient Egyptian history that was not well-known, and the remarkable preservation of the tomb and treasures provided invaluable information about the pharaoh and his time.