File TAA i.3.14 - Gold: Tutankhamun excavation documentation - Carter's notes for planned publication

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TAA i.3.14

Title

Gold: Tutankhamun excavation documentation - Carter's notes for planned publication

Date(s)

  • c. 1932-1933 (Creation)

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1 folder

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Name of creator

(1867-1945)

Biographical history

British chemist. Born, Chorlton-upon-Medlock 1867. Died, Luxor 1945. Educated, School of Mines, London, and the Royal College of Science. Worked for the British Government as an assistant chemist, until ill health prompted a move to Egypt. There he was engaged as an assistant chemist to the Government Salt Department, 1898. He initially managed the Survey Department and Assay Office laboratories, he was then appointed Chemist for the Antiquities Service, 1923-32. Honorary Consulting Chemist, 1932-45. He was able to put his expertise in cleaning, consolidating, and conserving antiquities to good use when he was lent by the Antiquities Service to H. Carter during the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun. He also worked at Tanis with P. M. Montet. Published many books about his work in this field.

Name of creator

(1874-1939)

Biographical history

British Egyptologist. Born, London 1874. Died, London 1939. Privately educated. Employed by P. E. Newberry in 1891 working for the Archaeological Survey. Assisted in excavations for the Egypt Exploration Fund 1892-3, was with Petrie at Amarna in 1892, and as a draughtsman to the Deir el-Bahri expedition 1893-9. Appointed Chief Inspector of Antiquities of Upper Egypt 1899-1904. Discovered several royal tombs, including those of Hatshepsut, Tuthmosis IV and Amenophis I. Inspector of Lower Egypt 1905. Employed by Lord Carnarvon from 1909 onwards, to excavate in the Theban necropolis, the Delta and Middle Egypt. His most famous discovery, that of the intact tomb of Tutankhamun, was made in 1922. He spent the next ten years recording the tomb's contents. Most of Carter's records for Tutankhamun's tomb remain unpublished.

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Biographical history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

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Archival history

Formerly in the possession of Howard Carter's niece, Miss Phyllis Walker.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated by Miss Phyllis Walker in 1945.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Gold. Howard Carter's collected notes for the intended scientific publication of Tutankhamun's tomb.

  1. Carter's manuscript, eight pages, 'Notes upon the remarkable rose-coloured gold employed in jewellery and other ornaments of the Theban Egyptian New Empire' etc., including:
    • (i) Copy of Alfred Lucas' account in Carter, Howard, The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen ii (1927), pp. 172 ff;
    • (ii) Copy of Dr Alexander Scott's notes on rose gold;
    • (iii) Copy of the jeweller's J. R. Ogden typewritten analysis of one sequin;
    • (iv) Carter's summing up of the evidence.
  2. Letters addressed to Howard Carter from:
    • (i) Dr Alexander Scott, May (typewritten, with manuscript draft of Carter's reply), June (manuscript), and August 1933 (manuscript), regarding gold in the tomb;
    • (ii) The jewellers J. R. Ogden concerning gold, with their analysis, typewritten;
    • (iii) W. F. Hume, December 1930, typewritten, on his publication about gold in ancient Egypt;
    • (iv) Copy of letter from Howard Carter to W. F. Hume, May 1933, on rose gold;
    • (v) Alfred Lucas to Howard Carter, November 1933, manuscript, on rose gold.
    • (vi) Carter's draft/copy manuscript letter addressed to A. Lucas, 15 May 1933.
  3. Newspaper cutting from Illustrated London News, April 1934, with articles by E. T. Lewis and W. T. Blackband on 'Rediscovery of the lost Etruscan art of granulation'.
    The following items were also filed by Carter in this group:
    • Printed calling card: Mr Alfred Dobrée, Le Fainel, St Martins, Guernsey. Savile Club.
    • Manuscript note with contact details for Dr [Cecil H.] Desch. F.R.S. National Physical Laboratory, Teddington', on Savile Club headed notepaper.

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Property of the Griffith Institute. No restrictions.

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Copyright Griffith Institute, University of Oxford.

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Archived scans in Griffith Institute.

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Note

  • See Millerman, A. 'Howard Carter and the goldsmith: James Roberts Ogden (1866-1940)' in Ancient Egypt: the history, people and culture of the Nile valley [24] (4/6), 46-50 figs [OEB 292137].

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