Tutankhamun’s Money: Howard Carter
A nervous hello, a lime beer, and then a sand-choked staircase that changed history. We pull back the curtain on Howard Carter’s last-chance bet with Lord Carnarvon and the painstaking, high-stakes work that turned a flicker of candlelight into “wonderful things.” From Carter’s early days as a teen draftsman in the Valley of the Kings to the disciplined process of photographing, stabilizing, and cataloging more than 5,000 artifacts, this story is equal parts grit, science, and obsession.
We walk through the antechamber’s chaos of beds, chariots, shrines, and sealed chests; the gilded shrines around the stone sarcophagus; and the nested coffins culminating in Tutankhamun’s solid-gold inner coffin and iconic funerary mask. Then the sands shift: Tutmania explodes across headlines just as Egypt claims new independence, turning a tomb into a stage for nationalism, press rivalries, and a showdown over who controls the past. An exclusive Times deal, a closed-door tour, and a sudden death by mosquito feed talk of a “mummy’s curse” and a very modern question of heritage and ownership.
We follow the shutdown, lawsuit, and the hard-won agreement that let Carter finish the work while keeping Tut’s treasures in Cairo—setting a standard that still guides archaeology and museum policy today. And we don’t dodge the thorny parts: accusations that Carter pocketed small objects, the later evidence, and the path to repatriation. Along the way, we spotlight the unsung craft behind the legend: low-light photography, chemical conservation, and patient hands working layer by fragile layer so the artifacts could survive another 3,000 years.
If you love ancient Egypt, big finds with bigger consequences, and the messy, human story behind museum glass, you’ll be at home here. Subscribe, share this episode with a history-loving friend, and leave a review with your take: who should decide where world heritage lives?
“The Archaeologists That Found Tutankhamun” Best History Documentaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ2pPNZy4pY
“Tour Of Tutankhamun's Tomb” Best History Documentaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZYMwFXla1s
Tutankhamun: ancient and modern perspectives
https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit/object-trails/tutankhamun-ancient-and-modern-perspectives
Howard Carter By Biography.com Editors
https://www.biography.com/scientists/howard-carter
“Who Was Howard Carter?” By Lucy Davidson
https://www.historyhit.com/who-was-howard-carter/
This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.
00:00 - Cold Open And Banter
04:20 - Setting The Stage: Carter’s Early Life
08:30 - The Saqqara Affair And Losing His Post
10:45 - Teaming With Lord Carnarvon
15:20 - The Valley Of The Kings Focus
19:45 - One Last Season Or Bust
21:25 - Steps In The Sand: First Discovery
24:00 - “Wonderful Things” And The Antechamber
28:00 - Doing It Right: Photography And Conservation
33:40 - Opening The Burial Chamber
37:30 - Tutmania And A Country In Flux
41:30 - Press Fights, Politics, And A Death
45:10 - Shutdown, Standoff, And The Return Deal
49:00 - Accusations, Missing Objects, And Legacy
53:20 - Wrap-Up And Call To Action
00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:16.399
00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:17.199
00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:18.320
00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.280
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:24.320
00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:25.920
00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:27.679
00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.160
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:32.799
00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:35.520
00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:38.240
00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:39.840
00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:41.200
00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:42.000
00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:42.799
00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:44.240
00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:44.799
00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:46.479
00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:47.039
00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:47.840
00:00:48.079 --> 00:00:49.600
00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:51.039
00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:53.039
00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.399
00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:56.479
00:00:56.799 --> 00:00:57.600
00:00:57.840 --> 00:00:58.880
00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.920
00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:02.880
00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:03.280
00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:04.640
00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:05.040
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:05.840
00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:06.480
00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:09.040
00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.760
00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:14.239
00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:24.640
00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.680
00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.439
00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:32.719
00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:35.840
00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:37.200
00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:45.599
00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:50.560
00:01:51.040 --> 00:01:58.079
00:01:58.640 --> 00:01:59.439
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:00.480
00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:07.439
00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:08.080
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:10.400
00:02:10.479 --> 00:02:11.120
00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:12.560
00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:14.560
00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:16.800
00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:18.319
00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:19.599
00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:26.639
00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:27.439
00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:30.719
00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:31.360
00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:39.680
00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:40.400
00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.479
00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.240
00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:45.280
00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:46.719
00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.280
00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:51.439
00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:52.800
00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:55.599
00:02:56.560 --> 00:03:00.159
00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:06.560
00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:08.560
00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.080
00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:10.400
00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:14.400
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:20.639
00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:22.159
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:22.719
00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:23.919
00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:25.919
00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:26.879
00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:29.439
00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:42.400
00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:47.599
00:03:47.919 --> 00:03:48.960
00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:53.439
00:03:54.159 --> 00:03:59.280
00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:00.560
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:02.240
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:04.560
00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.240
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.280
00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:26.639
00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:29.199
00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:36.959
00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:38.639
00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:40.240
00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:42.319
00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:51.120
00:04:51.199 --> 00:04:52.480
00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:56.800
00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:58.879
00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:00.000
00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:01.439
00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:03.439
00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:05.279
00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:06.480
00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.160
00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:13.279
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:15.120
00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:16.639
00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:17.360
00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:19.120
00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:19.839
00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:20.560
00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.439
00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:23.680
00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:26.480
00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.519
00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:32.959
00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:33.680
00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:34.399
00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:35.279
00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:40.319
00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:45.600
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:47.199
00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:49.040
00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.399
00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:54.399
00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:59.759
00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:01.360
00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.800
00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:04.160
00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:04.879
00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.199
00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:08.399
00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:08.879
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:09.680
00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:11.920
00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:13.600
00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:14.319
00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:14.879
00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:16.720
00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:22.879
00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:26.000
00:06:26.240 --> 00:06:27.199
00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:27.759
00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:32.079
00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:33.120
00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:35.519
00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:41.279
00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:41.920
00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.040
00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:51.199
00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:51.759
00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.480
00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.000
00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:12.639
00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:13.439
00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:14.000
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:14.560
00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:22.399
00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:22.879
00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:26.879
00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:27.519
00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:33.199
00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.079
00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:39.600
00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:52.240
00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.519
00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.519
00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:07.199
00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:15.680
00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:19.439
00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:19.839
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.120
00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:25.519
00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:26.399
00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.319
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:31.839
00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:35.759
00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.320
00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:42.960
00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:48.159
00:08:48.320 --> 00:08:48.559
00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:51.279
00:08:51.519 --> 00:09:02.240
00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:02.639
00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:07.600
00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:14.000
00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.720
00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:19.440
00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:22.639
00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:28.240
00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:28.879
00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.159
00:09:30.480 --> 00:09:38.559
00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:39.039
00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:46.720
00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:47.519
00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:48.000
00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:56.399
00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.360
00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:58.399
00:09:58.480 --> 00:09:58.799
00:09:58.960 --> 00:09:59.759
00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:00.960
00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.240
00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:02.960
00:10:03.200 --> 00:10:03.840
00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:04.960
00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:06.159
00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:06.720
00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.559
00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:09.360
00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:11.679
00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:13.840
00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:17.440
00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:20.480
00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:21.360
00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.759
00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:29.120
00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.320
00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:31.200
00:10:31.440 --> 00:10:31.759
00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:33.039
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:34.080
00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:39.759
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:41.919
00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:46.000
00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:46.720
00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:51.679
00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:52.240
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:57.039
00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.000
00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:59.360
00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:05.679