Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Google Doodle celebrates birthday of archaeologist, Howard Carter - the discoverer of the tomb of Tutankhamun

Today's Google doodle pays honor to an English archaeologist and Egyptologist Horward Carter, whose most significant contribution to his field was the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, in 1922. 

Google Doodle celebrates birthday of archaeologist, Howard Carter - the discoverer of the tomb of Tutankhamun
The 138th birthday of this great archaeologist is celebrated in the latest Google doodle, a colorful graphic depicting the British archaeologist looking keenly a display of ancient Egyptian treasures.

Carter was born in London on 9 May 1874 and took off to Egypt at the age of 17, to assist in the excavation and recording of Middle Kingdom tombs. He transformed his rawness into an asset, coming up with some rather novel skills while replicating the decoration of tombs being excavated.

In 1899, Howard was appointed the first chief inspector of the Egyptian Antiquities Service (EAS). Cartor monitored scores of excavations at Thebes (now known as Luxor).

On 4 November 1922, Carter's excavation group found the steps leading to Tutankhamun's tomb, by far the best preserved and most intact pharaonic tomb ever found in the Valley of the Kings. 

At this time Carter wrote in his pocket diary: "Discovered tomb under tomb of Ramsses VI investigated same & found seals intact."

He died of lymphoma in Kensington, London, on March 2, 1939 at the age of 64. He was buried in the Putney Vale Cemetery in London., and on his gravestone is written: "May your spirit live, May you spend millions of years, You who love Thebes, Sitting with your face to the north wind, Your eyes beholding happiness" and "O night, spread thy wings over me as the imperishable stars".

Report Tags: Kensington, London, Horward Carter, tomb of Tutankhamun, Egypt, Ramsses VI, archaeologist, archaeology, Valley of the Kings, Google, Google Doodle

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