19 New Objects from King Tutankhamun's Tomb Discovered in New York

Researchers have discovered that 19 objects in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art are from King Tut’s tomb, and an agreement has been struck that will see them be returned to Egypt.

The research indicates that Howard Carter kept a few pieces which were bequeathed to the Met after his death in 1939. The artefacts are quite small and at the time it was not known that they were from the tomb itself. 

“Fifteen of the 19 pieces have the status of bits or samples,” read a Supreme Council of Antiquities Press release.

“The remaining four are of more significant art-historical interest and include a small bronze dog less than three-quarters of an inch in height and a small sphinx bracelet-element, acquired from Howard Carter’s niece, after they had been probated with his estate.” They also include “part of a handle and a broad collar accompanied by additional beads.”

Going on display

If you’re in New York City you’ll have an opportunity to see the objects first hand before they are returned to Egypt.

Dr. Zahi Hawass said in the press release that:

“The objects will now go on display with the “Tutankhamun” exhibition at Times Square, where they will stay until January, 2011. They will then travel back to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they will be shown for six months in the context of the Metropolitan Museum’s renowned Egyptian collection," he said.

"Upon their return to Egypt in June 2011, they will be given a special place in the Tutankhamun galleries at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, and then will move, with the rest of the Tut collection, to the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza, scheduled to open in 2012.”

Although it was part of the paid archaeological digging concession and customary for the people who discovered tombs in Egypt to be allowed to take some of the artefacts back to their home country, Carnarvon and Carter were not allowed to take anything from the glorious Tutankhamun treasures. The French administrators of Egyptian heritage at the time cited a loophole that this clause only applied to tombs that had not been previously discovered--and the anteroom of KV62 had been robbed in antiquity.

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Owen Jarus (follow me: e-mail or )

Last three pieces by this author:

'Unique' astronomical object reveals Ancient Egyptians kept close tabs on the Big Dipper | King Tut suffered 'massive' chest injury, new research reveals | Early conservation effort? 3,400 year old wall found at Giza shows Thutmose IV tried to preserve Sphinx

Owen Jarus is a freelance writer based in Toronto ,Canada. He has written articles on archaeology for a variety of media outlets including The Canadian Press newswire (CP), U of T Magazine, The Mississauga News and The Guelph Mercury. Education: BA from the University of Toronto in History, Geography and Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations.