AHTER 1924 Dr Howard Carter - Opening of Tuts

Within Ted's excitement, I went forward and unboted the inner door. They slowly swung open, and there, filling the entire area within, stood, an immense yellow quasite sarcophagus. It affectionately barred any further progress until we could raise the lid, then a decisive moment.

None of us but felt the solemnity of the occasion. In a dead silence, the huge lid, weighing over a ton and a quarter, was raised from its bed. Light shone into the sarcophagus. The contents were completely covered by linen shrouds.

But as the last shroud was rolled back, a gasp of wondermen escaped our lips. No gorgeous was the sight that met our eyes. A golden effigy of the young king of magnificent workmanship filled the whole of the interior.

This was but the lid of a series of three coffins nested one within the other in closing the The mortal remains of the young king Tutankhamun.