The Golden Age of Tutankhamun

We know lots about the kings and nobles for whom the tombs in the Valley of the Kings were built. But who actually did the labour? Where did they live? And what became of them?

If you don’t believe in the power of an Egyptian pharaoh before entering this exhibit, you will afterwards.

The mummified body of Tutankhamun was well-protected. Encased in a nest of shrines, each stuffed with amulets and offerings, the boy king rested in a cocoon of spells and protective imagery. Until the shrines were discovered, that is.

Has King Tut Virtual whet your appetite for visiting Tutankhamun in the (desiccated) flesh? Then check out this handy guide to finding sites, artefacts and replicas relevant to the boy king - plus Tut himself - around the world.

Archaeology is recognised as a vital science on the world stage today. But it hasn't always been so - its origins stretch back just 250 years. Who were archaeology's Founding Fathers?