The Saving Isis project is different than most analytical writing projects. Our team’s role in the project is to be archaeologists who must recover the artifacts in King Tut’s tomb by committing as little harm to the murals on the wall as possible. To find the best way of extracting these artifacts, we had to conduct a great deal of research on the both the dimensions of the tomb as well as the artifacts to find the best possible option. We had many options, but each one had its disadvantages. Thus, we had to measure the advantages and disadvantages of each possibility of how to extract the artifacts and determine which alternative is best. After much arguing and research, my group finally found what we believe to be the best possibility.

At first, we had our hearts set on digging under the tomb to extract the artifacts. Then, as we started examining dimensions of the artifacts, we found that some pieces were much larger than we imagined - like Tut's tomb is over 2 meters long and weighs more than a ton (Andrews). This being said, it would be very hard to dig a tunnel big enough to get this tomb through. Our other alternative was to come from above - to start from the land above the tomb, and dig a tunnel down to the artifacts, and use pulleys to lift them out through the tunnel. This had one major problem - the limestone earth could break apart and destroy the wall murals in the tomb; which would in turn destroy the one thing we must preserve. So if we can’t go in from the top or bottom, there is only one option left: to go straight in. 

The walls between King Tut's Tomb and the antechamber were only about two feet wide (EyeWitness). So even though we would destroy some of the mural, the best solution is to be as precise as possible and create a small doorway between the two chambers, just like Howard Carter - but only better. "My first care was to locate the wooden lintel above the door: then very carefully I chipped away the plaster and picked out the small stones which formed the uppermost layer of the filling." (EyeWitness) Howard Carter was precise with his work, but he had 1923 technology so he could have only done so well.

For my portion of the project, I wanted to examine the history of Carter's dig, and find the flaws he made so we would not make the same mistake. With our new technology, I believe we are able to save the mural of Queen Isis.  

Howard Carter entered King Tut’s tomb with his boss, Lord Carnarvon. The tomb held a passageway, antechamber, annex, treasury, and burial chamber. They entered, ignoring the sign saying “the wings of death will touch those who violate the eternal rest of the Pharaoh.” (Canessa) Nonetheless, Carter and Carnarvon pursued the excavation. Once Carter reached the mural of the goddess Isis, he simply cut a hole through the plaster-sealed entrance and placed a candle through the opening.

     "With trembling hands I made a tiny breach in the upper left-hand corner. Darkness and blank space, as far as an iron      testing-rod could reach, showed that whatever lay beyond was empty, and not filled like the passage we had just cleared. Candle      tests were applied as a precaution against possible foul gases, and then, widening the hold a little, I inserted the candle and      peered in, Lord Carnarvon, Lady Evelyn and Callender standing anxiously beside me to hear the verdict." (Rosenberg)

As you can see, there is very little about how Carter actually dug into the chamber, and the focus is therefore much more on the verdict of what they saw once they dug through. This implies that Carter did not want to focus on how roughly and carelessly he may have cut through, but instead on the amazing treasures he discovered. Moreover, as I conducted further research towards how Carter actually cut through, I could not find anything on how he actually did it other than cutting through a plaster sealed entrance and lighting a candle to see what lies inside. From this, I concluded that such an amazing piece of history is therefore not going to focus on the negative result of destroying the goddess Isis, but instead on discovering something more fantastic. The question in this particular experience is not how he did it; it’s the fact that he found what he was looking for. The lesson this teaches to modern archaeologists is when you are trying to find something, take time in carefully planning how to get to it, instead of tearing right through to find it.

One thing Carter did do a very good job of, however, was getting the artifacts out safely so we could preserve them. This is one thing in particular my team could learn from Carter. Carter photographed each artifact and assigned it a number, and marked its place on a floor plan of the tomb. (Rosenberg) Next, since many of the items were extremely fragile, Carter and his team needed to be extremely careful with removing the objects. He even used cellulose spray to help preserve some of the fragile items so they would not fall apart during removal. (Rosenberg) Once an item was removed, it was placed on a stretcher, wrapped in gauze and bandages to protect it while it was removed. All of the stretchers were then taken to a conservation laboratory. (Rosenberg) Thus, Carter and his team did an excellent job removing the artifacts, allowing us to view them in excellent shape today.

Overall, even Carter may not have shown us how to enter the tomb correctly, he was very precise and careful in withdrawing the artifacts. Carter merely tearing through the wall to get to the artifacts teaches us a lesson to always carefully plan your objective, because you never know what you may be destroying on the way to your goal. My team, if we were there in 1922, would surely plan every move precisely and remove the artifacts while at the same time save Isis.

Works Cited

Andrews, Mark. “King Tut’s Golden Shrines” Egypt Feature Story. Tour Egypt. 2009. InterCiry Oz, Inc. 5 November 2009 http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/tutshrines.htm

EyeWitness. "Entering King Tut's Tomb, 1922," EyeWitness to History www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (2000).

Canessa, Alicia. “The Atlantis Ring” Todos los Derechos Reservados, De Sur a Norte-Punto Editores, Copyright © 2008 http://www.desuranorte.netfirms.com/atlantidaeng.htm

Rosenberg, Jennifer. 20th Century History. New York Times Company. Web 16 Nov. 2009. http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/kingtut_2.htm