1874-1939

English Archeologist and Egyptologist

Howard Carter discovered and excavated one of the richest finds in the history of archeology—the tomb of King Tutankhamen. The richness of the ancient treasures recovered from King Tut's tomb, and the surrounding publicity, propelled Carter to the forefront of modern archeology. The discovery also elevated King Tut from a little-known Egyptian ruler to one of ancient Egypt's most famous and studied Pharaohs.

Carter was born in the country village of Swaffham, Norfolk, England, where as his father's apprentice he studied the fundamentals of drawing and painting. Carter sought an alternative to the family business of portrait painting. At age 17, and without a formal degree, he ventured to Egypt to work as a tracer for the Egyptian Exploration Fund. Carter was charged with copying historical inscriptions and drawings for preservation and further study. Carter worked long hours at archeological sites...