The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) in 1922 revealed the nearly untouched burial site of a young Egyptian Pharaoh who ruled around 1336 B.C. Over 5,000 unique artifacts were found hidden in the Valley of the Kings, offering an incredible look into ancient Egyptian royalty.
Imagine finding a secret room packed floor-to-ceiling with dazzling gold, jewelry, and artifacts from thousands of years ago! That’s exactly what happened in ancient Egypt!
We are talking about the unbelievable discovery of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, often called King Tut. This young pharaoh ruled a very long time ago, around 1336 to 1327 B.C.. Most pharaohs’ tombs were cleaned out by robbers centuries ago, but Tutankhamun’s tomb was hidden by rocks and dirt and stayed almost completely safe! This amazing find in 1922 gave us our best look ever at what a royal Egyptian burial looked like for kids to learn about today!
Mira says:
"Wow! To think that King Tut was only ten when he became pharaoh, and then he died when he was just a teenager! Finding his tomb lets us see all the incredible things they believed he needed for the afterlife."
What Makes King Tut’s Tomb So Special?
You might wonder why King Tut is so famous. He wasn't the longest-reigning or the most powerful pharaoh in Egyptian history. The real reason for his fame is simple: his tomb was found nearly untouched! Think about finding a perfect piggy bank, but instead of coins, it's full of golden chariots and jewelry!
The tomb, numbered KV62 by archaeologists, was found in the famous Valley of the Kings near Thebes (which is now called Luxor). Because the tomb was dug low into the valley floor, it got covered up by debris and flooding, hiding it from grave robbers for over 3,300 years!
Mind-Blowing Fact!
King Tut’s original name wasn't Tutankhamun! It was Tutankhaten, but he changed it after his father died to show he honored the main Egyptian gods again.
Meet the People Who Found the Treasure
This incredible discovery wasn't an accident! It was the result of hard work by a determined British archaeologist named Howard Carter. Carter was convinced the tomb was still out there, even when others thought the Valley of the Kings was totally empty.
Carter’s search was paid for by a wealthy man called Lord Carnarvon. After years of finding very little, Carnarvon almost stopped paying! Luckily, Carter convinced him to fund one last season of digging.
Plus the entrance corridor
In total inside the tomb
It took Carter and his team this long to carefully catalogue everything!
How Did They Find the Secret Door?
The search was tough, but in November 1922, Carter’s team found a step hidden under old workmen's huts. This was the start of a staircase leading down into the rock!
At the bottom, they found a sealed doorway. Carter made a small hole, peered in with a candle, and when his friend Lord Carnarvon asked if he could see anything, Carter famously replied: “Yes, wonderful things!”
The First Look Inside
The first room Carter entered was the Antechamber. It was jammed with treasure, including dismantled chariots and furniture.
Past the statues of the king, they found the Burial Chamber. This room held the huge sarcophagus—a big stone box—which contained King Tut’s mummy inside three nested coffins!
The very last, innermost coffin was the most amazing: it was made almost entirely of solid gold!
💡 Did You Know?
One of the coolest treasures found with King Tut was an ancient dagger! Scientists discovered the iron used to make it came from a meteorite—metal from space!
🎯 Quick Quiz!
What was the name of the archaeologist who finally discovered Tutankhamun's tomb?
Why Did the Discovery Cause So Much Excitement?
The treasures showed everyone what ancient Egyptians valued. Because the tomb was untouched, archaeologists could see exactly what a pharaoh took with them to the afterlife.
The discovery caused a massive media frenzy all over the world! Ancient Egyptian designs suddenly became super popular everywhere, which people called 'Egyptomania'.
- The Gold Mask: The most famous piece, covering Tut’s face on his mummy. It’s made of 22 pounds of solid gold!
- Chariots: Parts of four ancient, disassembled chariots were found, ready for the king to drive in the next life.
- Shabti Figures: Over 400 tiny statues meant to magically work for the king in the afterlife.
- Game Boards: He was buried with five game boards, including one for the popular game Senet.
Even though the discovery was amazing for history books for kids and grown-ups alike, it also caused some tension! For the Egyptian people, the tomb felt like a symbol of national pride right after gaining more independence, which sometimes caused disagreements between the Egyptian government and the British-led excavation team.
Questions Kids Ask About Ancient Egypt
Keep Exploring History's Secrets!
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb is a thrilling reminder that history is full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered! From the golden mask to the meteorite dagger, King Tut’s story continues to wow explorers and curious kids around the world. Keep digging for knowledge!
