Exactly 89 years ago this weekend, one of the world’s most famous archaeologists made a discovery that would inspire millions right up to the present day.

Howard Carter himself now lies buried beside Wimbledon Common in Putney Vale Cemetery.

But on 26 November 1922 after many years of searching on behalf of his private financier, the Earl of Carnavon, he finally reached seals guarding the 3245-year-old tomb of King Tutankhamen of Egypt.

The young monarch had died aged around 18 and his burial chamber remained intact for thousands of years beneath the tomb of a later king.

Beyond the seals, Carter found an antechamber leading to the burial chamber itself. It contained a huge quantity of gold and hundreds of antiquities – so many that it would take another decade to unearth and catalogue them all.

Carter had originally suspected the existence of Tutankhamen’s tomb at the turn of the century when supervising excavations at Thebes in the Valley of the Kings on behalf of Egypt’s government antiquities department.

Since 1914 he had been working for Lord Carnavon but years of searching for the tomb had passed without success.

Finally Carnarvon, having lost a great deal of money, suggested they give up but Carter persuaded him to hold out for one more season.

On 4 November 1922 he found the entrance to a tomb but was not yet sure of the identity.

He telegraphed Carnarvon to come at once as he dared not enter without his patron.

On 26 November, with Carnarvon behind him, he breached the doorway and by candlelight saw the gold and ebony hoard with two statues guarding the entrance to the burial chamber itself.

He had to await permission from the Egyptian authorities before entering but on 16 February 1923, he and Carnarvon opened the doorway and found the sarcophagus of Tutankhamen.

There was worldwide press coverage and rumours arose of a curse on those who had disturbed the boy king. Lord Carnavon’s untimely death and those of others reinforced them.

Many books and films about the curse of the mummy’s tomb followed and for a while Carter gave illustrated lectures on his discoveries.

Eventually however he retired to an isolated life of failing health and collecting antiquities until dying of cancer in 1939.

Carter’s own grave beside Wimbledon Common has no golden artefacts but the stone contains the inscription: "May your spirit live, May you spend millions of years, You who love Thebes, Sitting with your face to the north wind, Your eyes beholding happiness."

The golden sarcophagus of Tutankhamen remains one of the world’s greatest museum attractions to this day.

The Wimbledon Society is working with the Wimbledon Guardian to ensure that you, the readers, can share the fascinating discoveries that continue to emerge about our local heritage.

For more information, visit wimbledonsociety.org.uk and www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk.

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