Tutankhamun's Tomb: The Moment Howard Carter Found The Steps Into The Tomb | Odyssey

On November 4th 1922 a breathless archaeologist, who had spent his life working in Egypt, wrote a hurried diary entry: “First steps of Tomb Found”. This was the very moment that Howard Carter found the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. What lay within this tomb, how did the world react and what did it mean for Egyptology.
Odyssey is your journey into the world of Ancient History; from the dawn of Mesopotamia to the fall of Rome. We'll be bringing you only the best documentaries that journey into the mysteries and ruins of worlds long lost.
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[@shehzio7710]

This is really without a doubt surely the greatest Tutankhamun documentary & the story of Howard carter’s discovery I’ve ever seen & I’ve seen many of them! The level of quality & every detail that I’ve just watched has been truly special & unforgettable it’s just an honour✨ Thank you for sharing this amazing story once again in such an incredible mesmerising beautiful way truly thanks!

[@KenjiMapes]

This was an amazing documentary. I’m a history buff & enjoy military history as well. WW2 is a favorite topic but I also love ancient Roman, Greek & Egyptian history. It’s mesmerizing & captivating. When I was a little kid I was absolutely transfixed by the Tutankhamen & Egyptian exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. One of the benefits of living in NY is having proximity to so much culture in the form of museums, exhibits, etc It’s a travesty that many native New Yorkers never even take advantage of these things. It’s like all the non-skiers I have met while living in Colorado😮🫤 Anyway all those pictures by Burton of Howard & company unearthing the tomb are incredible. He was able to record the entire process of all the work involved like investigating the tomb & cataloging all of the treasures. I was floored to learn it took 10 years to go through the 4 rooms & over 5,000 artifacts. Insane. At around @26:15 the Oxford curstor Daniella Rosenow says Burton took over 3,000 photos. This was using 1922 tech also. Photography back then was laborious & I’d assume expensive. We take so much for granted with our phones & digital cameras. It’s just hard to comprehend. What’s crazy is that inside the tomb which protected King Tut & the tomb’s treasures, King Tut’s mummified body was encapsulated inside his death mask inside coffin #3 which was inside coffin #2 which was inside coffin #1 which were all inside a large granite sarcophagus that itself was protected by 4 shrine structures. All of these coffins or sarcophagi along with the shrines were nested in one another which successively got smaller as you went along very similar to Russian matryoshka dolls which most are familiar with. At any rate the discourse between Dianelle & Dan is framed as if it was a conversation between the two but it’s actually serves as the documentary dialogue. Anyway archaeologist Howard Carter prudently commission prominent archaeological photographer Harry Burton to memorialize the dismantling of the tomb & its contents. The pictures Danielle shows Dan at around @30:00 onward are utterly breathtaking although they can be eerie & a bit macabre at moments as we are looking at a 3,500 year old tomb & mummy. The eerie atmospheric music they chose for the segment is perfect as it really capturs the spookiness of it all. I’ve watched this 3 times already it’s so good. One of the best docs on King Tut I have seen & one of the best endeavors to watch outside of seeing King Tut exhibits. I was lucky enough to see the King Tut exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of NY which is one of the many benefits of being a NYer. I try to visit the Egypt exhibit as much as I can. The Met never gets old & to me Egyptian, Roman, Greek & Medeival histories & museum exhibitions never get old. You’d be amazed at the number of New Yorkers who neve rtaoe advantage of all the museums in NY or the other cultural riches one can enjoy here. It’s a bit like the many people in Colorado who don’t ski the world class slopes there😲🫤🤷‍♂️. To each his own, but I don’t get it.🫠😵😵‍💫🥴😨🫤

[@noahfecks7598]

What I love about the photos from the antechamber, at a glance, it looks like they could be photos of someone's garage or basement. It's arranged in that sort of organized chaos putting stuff wherever it fits. It gives it a really human touch to it all.

[@Dar1gaaz]

well, it was looted twice before carter discovered it

[@noahfecks7598]

​@@Dar1gaaz This is true, but I don't think the tomb robbers made off with too much. They found a few things here and there that looked rummaged through, but they assume that whoever tried looting the tomb was caught in the act and the break-in area was re-sealed.

[@bonzolvr]

A history textbook in middle or high school (1980s/90s) had a brief blurb about the floral wreaths found on Tutankhamun. Reading that and realizing they had survived for thousands of years is one of the things that made me want to pursue archaeology as a profession.

[@Oddball5.0]

And did you?

[@bonzolvr]

@@Oddball5.0 I did! I don’t do archaeology now, but I work with several archaeologists. I still work in history.

[@Pandolcee]

@@bonzolvr wow nice to know! I am currently working on my history major as we speak in college, and I would love to pursue archaeology when I transfer to my University! the world is far too interesting for a 9-5 office job, I wish to sink my claws into history every day.

[@Bullshitster25]

I’m 35 and I’d cry if I get a chance to go to Tutankhamun tomb

[@stanromanov9905]

Me but I take my chance to go in DC

[@iGoatonPS]

I would be careful when going to Egypt.

[@Bullshitster25]

@@iGoatonPS why?

[@iGoatonPS]

@Bullshitster25 The number of scams and money they want you to pay for having your own equipment there.

[@GaaaageE]

@@iGoatonPSthe people that manage the historical sites there are a damn disgrace to the history they claim to protect.

[@katthaniel99]

to think that carter was able to see and most importantly found (not only) tut’s tomb but also a lot of things that are made thousands years ago and pretty much still intact is just hard to fathom

[@SanusiJafaru-u7v]

I’m Jafar sanusi from Ghana 🇬🇭 and I feel to cry when I remember the old history of Moses 🥲😭and wish to visit Egypt

[@tristman8413]

I thought aladdin trapped you in that lamp?

[@faithnaidoo7647]

Don't bother to cry about Moses.There is a greater Moses Jesus Christ who is leading God's people today!!.Yes THE same God of Moses has a spiritual Nation today and Jesus Christ is guiding this World Wide Nation made up of every tribe,tongue and people.

[@nicalev]

@@tristman8413😂😂😂

[@tristman8413]

@@faithnaidoo7647 are you sure about that?

[@faithnaidoo7647]

@@tristman8413 Yes.I am a 10000% sure!!!!

[@synsrfem4428]

I'm in Alberta Canada and am so incredibly jealous but grateful to be shown such beauty with such informed care and respect

[@charleswhite2351]

Beautiful to see the tomb up close, I am intrigued always!

[@balkirsimsekkan4412]

how many times I read and watch from various sources king tut`s story cant remember but never get bored

[@daveyr7454]

I was lucky enough to have stood within a meter or so of that overwhelmingly beautiful mask, when it was here in London at the history museum, part of a full display of artefacts from the tomb, many years ago. It made a huge impression on me! I cannot overstate how big. One that will stay with me all my days.

[@user-rc1yg5jy9x]

I saw the mask in Chicago years ago. I recall the highly polished ebony eyes that literally followed you as you moved about the room. It struck me then why the grave robbers would remove the hands of the coffins as they robbed it.

[@Ambassador_Gkar]

Great presentation, even though it is obviously a 'retweet' of a 2022 documentary. Thanks. I never realised just how good an artist & photographer Howard Carter was. Those images of the coffins, in their discovered state were breath-taking. Imagine someone, of today's World, having the patience & integrity to hold back, the urge to open the various coffins, whilst the necessary work, of documenting the detail, was carried out.

[@lt_johnmcclane]

Harry Burton was the photographer. It was mentioned in the doc

[@Ambassador_Gkar]

@@lt_johnmcclane Did I say JUST photographer. I was referring to the artwork.🤨

[@Yo-Two]

Stop fantasizing about the past like that 😂 of course people of today would do exactly the same thing with regards to properly documenting it.

[@alankelter9416]

This is one of the best layed out documentary's ive seen. More like this please.

[@metalrat8432]

A superb and rare opportunity to view documents and learn more of the amazing details on this archaeological record of a human life! Bravo!

[@glikky]

Anyone seen all the food they found in his tomb that still held up today onion/pitted dates/whole chickens. They were so advanced

[@JonnoPlays]

Lost ancient chicken high technology 😅

[@emptythoughts3060]

So it was as a 2000 year old aged chicken 😉

[@Mrbfgray]

@@JonnoPlays Sold by McDonalds as nuggets.

[@scottdiamond74]

The great advanced Chicken Jerky. 😮

[@glikky]

It just amazes me they preserved it so well that it hadn’t turned to complete dust. The chicken was encased in clay I believe in the shape of a rotisserie chicken lol.

[@shellyann2236]

I LOVE learning about anything on ancient Egypt! I have so many books about it. I love it so much I had a cat I named Bastet💜 Great episode!

[@coffeetalk924]

So absolutely mesmorizing, transcendent and spiritual. Imagine for a moment that you found this tomb all alone. No one in the world knew a thing. Lanern lit, just staring at the glorious artifacts around you.

[@aavvcc]

Carter had gorgeous handwriting.

[@xstalkrx]

Absolutely fantastic

[@sarahpovey6368]

Best documentary ever thankyou❤

[@anil42518]

THANK YOU DAN SNOW I've enjoyed this documentary on KING TUT....

[@jannahahmed3340]

I’m in Egypt at the moment, despite being Egyptian myself I hadn’t travelled yet to Cairo or Luxor and but prior to this, I spent years researching and looking at photos of the famous golden mask of the boy king, tutankhamun. I’ve always been fascinated with ancient Egypt. But nothing could have prepared me for the emotions and feelings I experienced when seeing it for the first time in Cairo , in the flesh. Same goes for seeing the pyramids, as I walked up towards them, the heat was extreme (August) and the journey was long, however all that went away as soon as the pyramids came into view, the energy I felt connected with is unmatched. Ancient Egypt and its monuments are truly wonders of this world. 🌎 🇪🇬

[@FINNIUSORION]

The inner coffin was solid gold? Was it one piece single cast? That would require so much heat in a controlled environment and huge molds.

[@Michelle-tk9jq]

This was fantastic.

[@souhilbenaskeur1094]

Quality documentary! One of the best documentaries I have ever watched..

[@rollingthunder4]

Another goodie from Dan. I haven't visited yet and at 68 the clock is ticking as they say..... I would go to the VotK just to visit Carter's house now i have been made aware of it. My childhood years of 8-15 were spent in Forest Hill, SE London, and many many hours absorbed by Horniman's Museum enthralled by its Egyptian display - halcyon days in my own Valley Kingdom😮

[@anieshaevans65]

History is so incredible. I try to close my eyes and imagine what it could have been like living during these times. Even just to be able to time travel and see what they all truly looked like.

[@deealex1402]

nicely presented. fascinating egypt. always been my obsession.

[@georgedoolittle9015]

*"practice made perfect"* when it came to this burial absolutely 😮😮😮

[@oobespoons]

amazing pictures and drawings!

[@jenylass1521]

I just finished reading the book The Visitors by Sally Beauchamp, its 05:12 am here in India and now i am here with a newfound interest and awe about King Tutankhamun. Hopefully i will be able to visit this legendary tomb in the future.

[@user-dt9qc5uv2m]

*No, a worker found them* At least one Abu Simbel Temple gave credit to the boy that told an archeologist about it, but of course, some don't believe Abu even existed, because they want the praise. Shouldn't some praise go to the workers? They knew what to look for. Even today Zahi Hawass so many times "I discovered this" with the archeologist who did standing right there!

[@Yo-Two]

No. The workers were just following orders. If "they knew what to look for" they would have already discovered it before.

[@teresajasoo2853]

Fabulous, I went to Egypt in the 90 and the Tumb was close for maintenance , could not believe my luck, I am 56 yrs , not sure If will ever go back, rather discover other beautiful parts of the world.

[@thegreatone107]

So amazing

[@beehappy3209]

Just imagine what else is still to be uncovered 😮 all that Gold and items preserved for us to uncover

[@user-fr7un3cn6x]

I so enjoyed this!

[@elisabethsteel3382]

Love this video, very informative! Thank you for sharing! 😍🤗

[@PaulNurse1]

An interesting documentary but had to ignore that it was hosted by Dan Snow

[@77morgenstern]

Excellent

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

I ❤ the Egypt.

[@RicardoAvila-ki9wb]

great doccie! Really fascinating work

[@ilovetrancemusic2999]

Just been in his Grave two weeks ago. Small Tomb. I was unsatisfied because the other Graves like the one from Ramses IV was more impressiv.😢 They House from Mr. Carter ist now a Museum... By the way, his Mummy was also located in the Grave in a Glass cofin.

[@NormanLor]

I HOPE ALL ARTIFACTS OF KING TUT ARE IN EGYPT WHERE THEY BELONG, AMAZING FINDS!

[@jagathpalliyaguru9511]

THANK YOU DAN SNOW I've enjoyed this documentary on KING TUT

[@kenobi1753]

So proud to be Afrikan ✊🏽

[@touyu20656_]

Me too

[@ellebelle8515]

I'm glad. I also believe that every human is first of all a soul and spirit, a created being humbly dependent on their creator. How we live with pure hearts and deeds is most important.

[@kathleenmholland8055]

There appears to be recent damage to the area of the left cheekbone on Tutakhamun's gold mask. I've never seen this before! What happened? HOW could this happen? 😮

[@drixhernandez7449]

Imagine if the great pharaoh Ramses was discoverder her tomb in intact.. its more treasure and wonderful things that we can see today..

[@babisprogd2758]

strange Tutankhamun was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ruled c. 1332 - 1323 BC, alexander arrived in Egypt 332 BC. According to Greek historical sources, the Egyptians welcomed him. In the same year he was crowned as Pharaoh died 323

[@raymonddeleon1977]

nice

[@dazzaboy04]

I may be wrong here, but wasn't it a little boy who saw the corner of a step poking out of the sand?

[@kevinhoward9593]

34:02 probably half a trillion dollars in gold right there alone. easily.

[@KelvinRees-k6v]

Carter had in Been in thst tomb long before he announced it, hed taken many artifacts , out well before the grand opening

[@klasiks92]

Enjoyed this

[@thepoolteam9339]

Why is Dan holding that LED light stick in the tomb? It is already well lit with electric lights. We don’t need a prop to suggest to us you’ve crawled deep underground- the tomb on its own is spectacular enough!

[@benediktmorak4409]

Already many years ago, when going into the heat,I was told NEVER go without a headgear. A hat, a baseball cap. Anything.But never bareheaded.

[@candysugar27]

They should’ve taking it away . What a horrible thing to do . He should be resting where his family left him

[@Yo-Two]

It wasn't his family though, was it 😂

[@winniedhaouadi1973]

I realy enjoyed the sery Thanks for that But also its a little disrespect for toetachamon to examen him

[@sankyuuu7993]

Great episode. The host reminded me of Gordon Ramsay if he was a historian.

[@clivebaxter6354]

Annoying you mean?

[@riceball4923]

a poor worker found the steps for the tomb

[@jabychador5923]

Best discovery ever,still uneducated people spreading rumours about his health.btw latest research showed his bloodline was not pure incest,his death was not of health issues.note:all kings heart were put in boxes with every organs seperate near his tomb.but king tut heart was never found,becoz he died on the battlefield,by the enemy chariot or was crushed when he felt from his coz when they researched on him properly his left side was crushed likely by impact of a chariot weel,his heart was crushed and could not be preserved.

[@user-tm1oy6ck4t]

The most famous archeological discovery of all time? Really???

[@zorromaskedman685]

I'M #422=8 ♾️ Imagine if ancient tomb robbers had gotten to this tomb first😳. We are the fortunate. Putting all on display is a Celebration of Tutankhamun! 🪲2024 May.

[@asther113]

"The spirit of millions of years"

[@alipeacock3685]

Have been there…it’s amazing ,.it’s was made with about 122lbs of gold …

[@kevinhoward9593]

15:52 i dont see that at all. i see scribble. Looks worse than a doctors note. The funny thing is that Howard Carter didnt even discover the tomb. One of the worker's sons was playing in the area and just happen to dig a hole and found the first step. 20:42 its hard to fathom that those objects have been in the same exact spot for THOUSANDS of years. im curious to how the sarcophagus was put in there without scratching up the interior.

[@susanm200]

Did anyone ever feel bad for disturbing his peace? Really!

[@Erikjust]

Its funny really, the ancient Egyptians pharaohs didn´t want to be forgotten. They wanted to live forever in the minds of the people. Well King Tut certainly hasn´t been forgotten, he now lives forever in the minds of the people, and its all thanks to the man who broke into his tomb.

[@damojfowler]

Couldn't finish watching, stuffed wth annoying ads.... Disappointing.

[@mattderouen2323]

$45,000 in 1922 money isn't $20,000,000. It's a little over $800,000...

[@Mick_English]

Lots of historical inaccuracies

[@blissyogi8699]

How long after he died did the burial take place? It must have taken a long time to create the objects and masks/coffins he was buried with.

[@ellebelle8515]

I thought they said that the building preparation starts during the pharaoh's lifetime. They are building while the pharaoh is alive to have enough preparation. In Tutankhamun's case, they were less prepared, because he died so young.

[@robertgraves3669]

He had to be in the tomb within 70 days from his death

[@tomasitopena7758]

wow

[@Philip-gn8wx]

Some dirt poor Egyptian laborer was the guy who discovered that step leading to the tomb of Tut... Anyone know what his name was? Carter claimed the credit for discovering King Tuts burial tomb...I don't think Carter ever touched a shovel... No justice.. No accolades..nuttin,'...

[@hoopzista]

but if he didn't had the enthusiasm to look for it, to facilitate the search, to look for investors would it be found by that poor Egyptian laborer? it always starts with the one who had the Idea...and thanks to him the poor laborer had a job but if Carter quit in the 1st month...can you feed that laborer? not disregarding laborers performance here though for they did what their job resume had asked

[@SiiriCressey]

How long did common Egyptian's tombs get worked on before they died?

[@ilovetrancemusic2999]

I was told that They start working ON IT when he's announced as the new Pharao.

[@SiiriCressey]

@@ilovetrancemusic2999 Sure, but I'm not talking about the Pharaoh's tombs. I mean the tombs/graves of common Egyptians.

[@greenleaf9274]

I wonder how they molded the mask.

[@MaxeneRuthpRivera]

1:53

[@martinkirby3100]

Carnarvon didn't discover anything he merely funded the dig carter was the person who discovered King tuts tomb not lord Carnarvon lord Carnarvon didn't get his hands dirty in the digging of the tomb

[@2010begley]

I have visited this tomb and it was magical (also very very hot)

[@ShreeRathod-ez7gx]

Egyptian people now converted cheristan an muslim don't call tham Egyptian plz🙏

[@Tywithay]

The death mask was actually for a female. It was evident that they weren't expecting the pharaoh's death and had to scramble to finish quickly.

[@marinafrascella7613]

they would never give him a mask meant for somebody else..It would mean that his spirit would not recognize him and would not be able to lead him to Eternity

[@marinafrascella7613]

they are the features of a young boy

[@Tywithay]

@@marinafrascella7613 He died unexpectedly, so very little about his tomb was meant for him. It was thrown together. The mask is definitely not that of a young boy though.

[@marinafrascella7613]

and yet when I saw it,it was the face of an adolescent male

[@entary4723]

The pierced ears is enough evidence it was for a female pharaoh

[@dianetyson7932]

Who else came from a recommendation?

[@piotrdrukier]

And yet, he was a relatively minor, or unimportant, Pharaoh, buried with odds and ends of his father's (probably) leftovers. As much as it is a treasure, it is also a pile of hastily assembled rubbish.

[@billbright1755]

All those things should be as closely as possible put back where they were found and sealed again by a fill just as it was. It is his burial ground and he would want it that way. As example would we want J.F.K. dug up and examined?

[@rodhanson7112]

HOWARD CARTER FOUND KING TARTARS TOMB IN 1922AND WHEN HE PUT AN OIL LAMP THROUGH A SMALL HOLE HE SAW GOLD EVERY WHERE AND WHEN HE LIFTED THE HEAVY GRANITE LID OFF THE COFFIN HIS DEATH MASK IS MADE FROM SOLID GOLD AND IT'S AMAZING HOW THE ANGENT EGYPTIANS WERE ABLE TO DO THIS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO 😁

[@dianawettstein7420]

I agree completely 👍

[@firehorse2008]

I got confused when the woman expert used the word "cashet" instead of "cashe." 🙄

[@patrickbush9526]

🗣📢someone stole 🌴🐪 escalator

[@cristofaraon]

Government of British British Great Britain United States New York Identification must be recognised, paperwork must be completed, face must be equal, all rules by human-science, rules must be made with employees of Governments, Great Britain NY 🎉

[@shaneesegibbons1998]

Well we know he’s eating good in the after life

[@emptythoughts3060]

Lets not forget that this wasnt just for historic or archeological value purely. It was mainly so the UK could get their hands on invaluable ancient artefacts that could be taken by the government and presented in their museums. Nothing of it will go to Egypt back in the days as British empire was colonizing every continent possible. The proceeds or prizes dont go to indigenous people of Egypt Most of these historians and their documentaries omit to mention any of it or pay respect to the LIVING people of Egypt.

[@emptythoughts3060]

Oh and replace “collected” with looted and you get a nuanced picture of real history

[@kylerolofson]

​@@emptythoughts3060you may be right, but it's also very possible that if foreign archeologists didn't find artifacts when they did, Egyptian grave robbers may have taken them to the black market. In fact it's local grave robbers having looted every tomb before King Tut's was found that made the discovery so profound, no intact tomb had been found like that before. King Tut wasn't even that important. Looting by locals is what made the famous pharaoh's tombs lost forever.

[@matthoward7645]

Ye cause the locals hadn't already looted all the others....... Stop with the narrative we stole it all in the UK it's bullshit tbh

[@clivebaxter6354]

Grow up, the UK has nothing from the tomb, it's all in Egypt

[@emptythoughts3060]

@@kylerolofson it’s theirs to be looted shrug 🤷🏽‍♀️ having a colonizer loot it where they dont get a dime doesnt sound like a ideal solution either.

[@VincentCiccone]

King a cou ta da

[@joemanifest5572]

Smh just leave the pyramids alone

[@michaelhawkins4005]

I heard there was someone say they found some Brexit leaflets down there, or maybe just planted!

[@HikikomoriDev]

...Worshipping ancient and brutal Egyptian dictators, beautiful.

[@kelseypayne4797]

First ❤

[@MPov1985]

karas niekada nelaiko karo

[@coeurdelion1540]

Good evidence all this stuff was made for Tut's sister, Meritaten. Her stuff was usurped for Tut's tomb. Not fair!

[@garydetaeye7081]

He screamed I'm rich

[@gazza6348]

Who gives these people the right to desecrate the dead and raid thier tombs like theives that they are nothing is sacred when someone can make money off it ...makes me sick

[@clivebaxter6354]

Ruined by Dan Snow as usual, always over the top presentation

[@CALLMESIR...]

Isn't that the point? To get people locked in?

[@bacchanalinternational]

where are the stolen artifacts now?