What new evidence suggests Howard Carter stole from Tutankhamun's tomb?

Unpublished letters, particularly one from Sir Alan Gardiner to Carter, indicate an amulet gifted by Carter was identified as originating from Tutankhamun's tomb.

Who is Rex Engelbach and what was his role regarding Tutankhamun's tomb?

Rex Engelbach was the registrar of artifacts at Cairo's Egyptian Museum who examined an amulet and concluded it was stolen from Tutankhamun's tomb.

Did Howard Carter's great-niece respond to the theft accusations?

Yes, Susan Allen denied the accusations, stating that Howard Carter never stole anything.

Home / Science / Carter Accused of Tomb Theft After New Evidence

Carter Accused of Tomb Theft After New Evidence

22 Jan

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Summary

New evidence suggests Howard Carter stole from Tutankhamun's tomb.
Unpublished letters confirm theft allegations against the discoverer.
A museum expert identified an amulet as originating from the tomb.

Carter Accused of Tomb Theft After New Evidence

Archaeologist Howard Carter, who discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922, is now facing renewed accusations of theft. New evidence has emerged over a century after the celebrated find in the Valley of the Kings.

Unpublished letters, featured in a recent documentary, appear to confirm long-standing rumors. A note from Sir Alan Gardiner to Carter reveals that an amulet given to Gardiner by Carter was identified by Cairo's Egyptian Museum registrar, Rex Engelbach, as originating from Tutankhamun's tomb. Gardiner expressed regret for the awkward position, admitting he did not reveal Carter as the source.

These letters provide the first definitive written proof of items being removed from the tomb, allegedly by Carter himself. Egyptologist Sally El-Sabbahy noted that while Carter's discovery was monumental, there was a significant effort to avoid tarnishing the legacy of Tutankhamun by revealing unsavory details about Carter.