The Search For TUTANKHAMUN - Egypt - by BBC

you over a thousand years before the birth of Christ a young Pharaoh died his burial was carried out in a hurry and his name would shortly be erased from the monuments he had built all memory of his reign would soon be lost he was to vanish from history a 3000 years his name was Tutankhamun the story of the boy king tutankhamun would eventually become inextricably linked with the life of an Englishman Howard Carter Carter first came to Egypt as an artist hired to sketch and paint the ancient monuments he quickly also became a knowledgeable archaeologist a freak storm in the winter of 1898 brought Carter to the temples of Western Thebes near Luxor to assess the damage and record the war reliefs but it was his journey home one morning that was to change his life found anything Leonard no no ostrich grandpa slippery looks like you found something no Oh allow me from the temple reliefs have been washed away by the thunderstorm I wanted to record them Oh Vicky nunya well I suppose you could always flog them to look Carter knew his discovery could be important but without funding he could do nothing my dear I'll borrow your shake yes sir I thought that whole area was dug out so did I I suppose the flash flood must have loosened to dirt so this is a drawing of the steppe horse tripped over as part of a tomb so it could be a royal tomb exactly no sign of tomb robbers the evidence suggests not my god people really think this could be a day yes sir I really do when can we start Theodore Davis retired Boston lawyer financed a number of Carter's excavations and he liked to put on a show Carter allow me to introduce Lord Cromer British consul general of each of us funny this music I'll set this opposer God let's take a look lead on mind your head there is often evidence a tomb has been resealed after a robbery but the really exciting thing here is that I can find absolutely no sign that scream robbers have been here before us excellent well let's open it up yes sir that's enough jargon after you sir no no you first you're the expert right well you might find the air is very bad these chambers have been open for three thousand it would appear to be empty is this some kind of joke you were right about the smell you told me you were sure you made a fool of yourself cutter much worse you made a fool out of eight public homeboy four years later in 1905 a British aristocrat arrived in Luxor to convalesce after a serious road accident he come upon that you and your husband will have a very pleasant stairs my name is Anton Burt I am the manager if there is anything anything at all that you require please let me know I may require you to find a less prisoners yes I might be able to do something with a price but if you're not entirely happy with that one wedding take a look at those on it like an one second excuse this Saqqara been a while oh yeah I hear what you're putting together the team for the digging the valley the sea that's right maybe there's time I'll find that elusive intact Pharaoh's tomb one that hasn't been robbed I was just wondering if you'd Sam chosen the field directly I have engaged the services of mr. Leonard Leonard he doesn't know the ground as well as I think hmm I feel I'm in safe hands with him Cara Egypt is full of archaeologists fire but there are damn few really good artists a man should do what he does best in his life you Jesus what the hell is that it's a gold petrol it's what the Pharaohs will across their chests God look at that we know who belongs to after church hey kanava it is come and take a look at this this is absolutely magnificent isn't it for you it's a pectoral on a pharaoh wore around his neck pure gold you won't find any lemon Tiffany's yeah you see pharaohs were considered semi-divine by the ancient Egyptians and gold represented the flesh of the gods something like this I guess must have reminded them that they were kind of holy how interesting so does this mean you found a complete Pharaoh's tomb that I wish now most of it's empty like the others and Leonard yes these tombs have been here for over 3,000 years unfortunately the tomb robbers got here before we did their petrol and the other things we found out a rare achievement so there's no chance of finding a full tube now you're talking about the Holy Grail you keep trying but no one's found one yet this Valley was the veronik burial place over 500 years 36 Pharaoh 26 dad 26 Pharaohs are buried around here so far I have found over half of the twenty seven major tombs yet discovered and all of them have been robbed did find one last year you yeah and Fuu you hadn't been touched had lots of stuff in it but it wasn't a Pharaoh wasn't a whole deal that's the thing that we're all looking for have some tea thank you thank you now so how many are donut 3 3 that we know of we intend to find them all don't we let her know Bao means help yourself I found that under a rock there's the cartouche of someone called Tutankhamun is he a ferret then it seems to think he is oh the references we have to him a few and far between I'm afraid but he's buried here probably most of them are but then again he could be in another Valley or well anywhere really we don't know well wherever he is this is very pretty I hope you find him hmm we will Tutankhamen was just eight years old when he became king these were dark times his father had been a heretic defying the traditional gods temples lay in ruins the Empire was under threat now Egyptians looked to the new Pharaoh to return their land to greatness he would have a new name Tutankhamun was given to him after becoming King it means the living image of our Moon in honor of the greatest of Egypt's gods this sent a clear message Egypt's ancient religion and culture would be restored Tutankhamun's reign promised to be a glorious new beginning fascinating those things David showed us don't you think you know I wouldn't mind doing a little digging you're here to get one and recover diggings hardly driving a car won't be an accident besides looks like fun huh and you better hurry up before mr. Davis finds everything ladies and gentlemen welcome and thanks with God I have invited you all here today to watch the opening of some jars I recently discovered in the Valley of the Kings I don't know what's in them maybe nothing at all but Leonard here seems to think they're worth opening he says they may have been stolen from a royal tomb got me sure that until we actually opened them so let's take a look maybe three thousand years old but they're still pretty strong got it mr. Leonard if you please a decorated color of papyrus using some bags what appear to be salt and linen bandages linen bandages a load of old rubbish anything else in there Nana nothing to be able interest to you sir I was given to understand that mr. Davis had made a valuable contribution to archeology in Egypt mr. Davis is an amateur and a fool may not the amateur and the professional both make a contribution yes but all he cares about is showing off for him archeology is about ensuring that the name of Theodore Davis isn't forgotten by history is that such a terrible thing they'd all had to be remembered wouldn't we you wouldn't by any chance be mr. Carter would you yes I am how did you know who I was I was told to look out for the rudest man in Luxor tell me how does one go about getting started on this digging business are you serious yes I rather think I am it seems to me that archaeology is a fine scholarly pursuit but all the excitement of gold prospecting I suppose there's something in that hello sir hello with a gentleman buy something a very nice piece from the tomb of a pharaoh looks good it's original that is very nice it's a fake what not sir is not fair the mosey off yell ahold oMG me matter well stay bi Aguila sabe Danny how could you tell it was a fake the paint is really dry ah it's not always those sometimes you have to live with something for a while before you can assess its true value if it's genuine then like all really good art it will appear better every day it's fake familiarity will certainly breed content look up there can you see the beauty of the lining a relief the wonderful thing about Egyptian art is its immense dignity in restraint only the ancient Egyptian could have produced it a sense of the sacred was in their everyday lives and their art was made with eternity in mind you can't fake that I'm sorry I can be a bore on the subject would you like to come and work for me mr. Carter careful I said good another funny job this is a good place is it unfortunately Davis has the only permit to dig in the Valley of the Kings so that's off-limits to us but Carter says this is a very promising spot it's not good she beautiful isn't it beautiful what is it Davis said he intended to uncover every tomb in the Valley of the Kings do you think it's possible he might succeed as far as we know there are only two royal tombs left in the valley the Pharaohs Horemheb and Tutankhamun so yes I suppose it's possible he also said Tutankhamun might not even be in the valley I doubt that I wonder if Davis could be persuaded to share his permit digging the day of the king I got that too but he's an old man hopefully he'll drop dead one day find anything Leonard could be sir take a look at this what is it a pharaonic cartouche look what Paul mm horn had my god Leonard you know what this means don't you and then there was one all we need now is to t come as pharaoh tutankhamun had to perform one vital task he had to take a queen Anke salim hoon was considered the perfect choice she was his sister an incestuous marriage would ensure that power remained within the family it also suited Egypt's military leader I who effectively ran the country he would have been keen to see that no other officials gained undue influence through marriage to mark the dawn of a new era Tutankhamun's government began the restoration of egypt's great temples but for the king the most important new building work would be his tomb first a site had to be found in the Valley of the Kings I himself may have selected it he was probably familiar with the valley having already started to build his own tomb here well what do we got yeah sure gotta be Tutankhamun yeah could be let's get in college next sold you some milk mr. Maulana Ali my ballot coupons on what let's never know what Sammy what did he say he said that Davis has found a Newton they think it's Tutankhamun hey genomic teddy what news the Valley of the Kings is history how we got him Susan come shootin common you bet I said we get him and we got him well congratulations thank you thank God now I can retire I need a drink yeah is it him well it's too soon to tell bit yeah I think it could be see I don't believe him what we saw today was not a tune it was a pit they turn up all the time David said he found some material bearing the name of Tutankhamun maybe he did that's perfectly possible but that does not make it a tomb it looked like a tomb to me of course it did that's there were no hieroglyphs no carvings no cartouche none of the things that have pointed out every single Boyle tumors have been found so why would Davis said I don't know he's sick he wants to go home and most importantly he wants to be the man who found the last Pharaoh's tomb in the valley what about Leonard what does he think he wouldn't say he doesn't want to deny his boss I promise you sir what you saw today was not a royal tomb so you think he's still out there do you yes I do in the valley and the valley morning canal de teddy how are y'all done yep glad to be going I thought I might take up your concession oh don't waste your money take it from the a the Valley of the Kings is dug out there's nothing left not much left of me either Carter doesn't agree with you Carter is chasing rainbows he still believes there's an intact royal tomb out there if there was I would have found it he seemed so sure Carla once told me he was sure of something made me look a fool don't be taken in by him George the man's at a dream safe home then a pleasure economic perhaps you should listen to mr. Davis I saw Davis this morning he was leaving well you know my thoughts there no great loss so how you doing up here all settled in are you yes yes it's most pleasant thank you good what do you make of this you bought this I have it on approval what do you think it's a fake I thought as much I took your advice I been living with the thing for the last few days and it just didn't seem quite right you know I really think I'm beginning to get a feel for this Egyptology business good I'm pleased I think we should apply for the concession to dig in the valley so you do not believe the valley is empty that's correct Davies claimed to have found everything if you don't mind me saying so mr. Davis is full Lord Carnarvon doesn't believe that Davis found the tomb of Tutankhamen but locking up on he's an amateur he's you know maybe so but I agree with him well I am very happy to ran through the permits one year with adoption to review for five years subject for approval good but certain ones I got no indeed these are the usual terms and conditions there's been a small increase in the annual fee but I understand his lordship as a wealthy man's I don't think they'll be a problem as long as Lord Carnarvon is allowed to recover his costs through the sale of Antiquities that may not be possible things have changed since you worked here it would require negotiation on each item you must understand Monsieur Carter this country is no longer a playground for European treasure hunters I'm not a treasure hunter of course not I may be French but my job is to safeguard the heritage of Egypt return the contract when you are ready I hope the value will reward your efforts you have waited a long time for this have you not yes almost 20 years let us hope it will be worth the wait this is a map of the valley as you can see the whole area that we're interested in is covered in the debris from other digs so first of all what I've done is to divide the entire area into grids that way we'll know exactly what we blocked out somewhere then what I propose is that we clear away the old debris get right down to the rock floor and only then can we begin to excavate properly that way will stand the best chance of finding something that others may have missed but I think we should get started don't you yes sir Ali I let it go ha rotten Kaka all right sir haha lady conohan my husband asked me to come and see you we've got to leave leave whoa with the Germans what everything has to stop government orders you during the war Carter was attached to British intelligence in Cairo as a translator and he returned to painting Donavan lady kanava it is so good to see you back for years I've seen nothing but salyers so many uniforms now last the world returns to normal chuckling thanks a little Anton this is my daughter everything some demons in I'm going to see how it's given as present hello I'm sorry I've come to the conclusion that music originally anatomically and spiritually you had just made me dancing I didn't warn you I was no good at this thank you for the gramophone everyone's time music in their lives J give me a cigarette does your mother know you smoke really Howard you're the last the Victorians I make no excuses for being old fashioned Pop's is very excited to be back in Egypt he can't wait to start digging again are you going to find tons of God I don't know about that isn't that why you do all this digging no no that's not why I dig it Oh then what is it about everything I've learned about the ancient Egyptians tells me that those was a culture unlike any other I want to know more about I want to know everything about the matter obviously I can't I won't but if I could just dispel the shadows a little see a little further into the darkness that is why I did I'm really not sure nope it's no good let's keep going on that one okay so I love you now together how much longer can you afford to pay Carter to move rocks from one place to another he has a system a means of redistributing blocks it is second alarm most of the excavations carried out the valley in their sloppy Carter want to be Clara certain easements turn on turn a leak morning Carter however if I may you did you tell him yes what did you say that we were leaving but I couldn't afford this anymore what was the war and everything what about thinking that perhaps people were right that is too might not even be in the bank I told him that too he was good enough to admit that he could be true so when will he stop I gave him another month till the end of the season you did the right thing George hello Leonard is that you over here Javed hello how are you sorry I'll be in bed out of path uh I just had a call from Winlock at the met MS Metropolitan Museum New York window he's their agent man um do you remember those jars that Davis and I dug up well apparently they've been lying around in the cellar for years he finally gets an opportunity to take a look at them and he tells me that they definitely contain embalming materials oh and part of the funeral feast of Tutankhamun which means his tomb must be exactly Oh I thought you should know sorry you look a drink that's why you're never asked why did you come and tell me I'll write a good run with Davis at night it's your turn now you always were the best of us if you can't find him maybe we'll good luck it was essential for Tutankhamun's tomb to remain undisturbed if he was to have a successful passage into the afterlife the plan was that beyond a concealed entrance a tunnel would lead deep into the rock to a series of magnificent chambers which would be filled with treasures for his final journey work on the tomb would be carried out in secrecy until the day of the Pharaohs death for the young Tutankhamun the need for a tomb must have seemed remote but it was to prove more urgent than either he or his queen could have imagined you understand the significance those jars contain the debris from the mummification process Natron and then in bandages it means that he must be buried there I see there's still six or seven grid sections left I know but he must be there he must I'm sorry old man I'm not sure I have the same appetite I once had I know that the last few years haven't delivered much in the way of results it's an expensive game one I can no longer miss you would you allow me to continue the day by myself using your permit I will finance the excavations but obviously anything that we do find will still belong to you under the terms of the concession you're not a rich man I have enough you're that confident nah now I wouldn't say that I'm confident exactly I need to finish what I started I couldn't accept such a one-sided arrangement one final season then but I shall pay the bills in fact I insist upon it I work under our deaf children you one square left yes right next to where you and Davis thought you'd found him the workmen took two years if you ever wondered hold those weapons how are they date back to ram Sousa six don't they I'd always thought that they've been built for his to Nilda asked me to but radishes carrying 200 years after Tutankhamun didn't he which would mean that there was nothing there when Tutankhamun was buried and whatever lies underneath must be untouched that's - yo get up show me morning Carter you've arrived is it all dug out we're ready marvelous just marvelous and only a spit away from tinny Davis's last tomb in the valley ah well done old chap so much for America no our way don't be so sure what do you mean tomb robbers it could be yes come on this is what troublesome but Phil is a different color which means the tomb robbers probably got through here why would they bother plastering it over and filling the tunnel up again I can't stand this we got a break-in what can you see can you see anything wonderful what do you think let's open it up shall we um my god I don't believe it look at it what's her bed beds tables of mushroom Hey look at there they were made yesterday over 3,000 years old it's incredible that's only one thing would where is he no other doorway you think this is just a store or do some storing pups there must be another chamber yes look there's a doorway here is that it let's break through Oh another liar that's against the rules what about them she done huh no look hello it's quite straightforward we are not allowed to break through unless like Oh or one of his inspectors is here at he'll of the rules and damn did I see you I have to wait this on tip screen French bureaucrat he could revoke your permits we could lose the tomb how it's right boss oh my tell him what look what I'm asking is that we have a quick peek to see what's there not all the money and effort I put into this place I'd say the least I'm entitled to what if he finds out we can I thought have a look cover-up though say nothing I don't make it any bigger you first know that ever got at this this is it this is the sure how it has to take it in we're not the source so seal it up there's another side it's intact saleswoman my goodness he's in there we really have to jump on her congratulations we should not her of course FRG you you

Channel: Experience Egypt

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Rating: 4.537149 out of 5

Keywords: sharm el sheikh, ancient Egypt, Hurghada, sharm el sheik, egypt holidays, el gouna, Taba, pyramids of Egypt, cairo, egypt, egypt pyramids, hurgada, dahab, red sea, holidays, ETA

Id: BFUiE2MWR_8

Length: 57min 57sec (3477 seconds)

Published: Wed May 15 2013