TOMB’S TREASURES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1922, Page 5

TOMB’S TREASURES.

DISCOVERY LN EGYPT. WONDERFUL OBJECTS. LINKS WITH HISTORY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Dec. 28, 8.5 -p.m. London, Dec. 27. The Morning Post’s Luxor correspondent states that Mr. Howard Carter on Wednesday commenced removing objects from the tomb of Tutankhamen, the discovery of which is arousing ever increasing interest. Experts from Britain and America are assisting Lord Carnarvon’s expedition in the long and difficult work of saving the contents of the tomb.

The first object brought out was an exquisitely decorated box with inlay work, showing the king hunting lions, twelve by eighteen inches. It recalls the highest type of Japanese inlay work. The experts bore the box on a ptretcher through the Valley of Kings to the tomb of Seti the ’Second, where the contents of Tutankhamen’s tomb are being examined and cleaned. Other objects thus far brought out are the queen’s robes and jewellery, including a necklace of the rarest black amber. An object of priceless value is a large alabaster vase of exceptional perfection, containing balm for embalming bodies. Mr. Carter describes this as an early type of vase which Mary Magdalene used when she washed the feet of Christ. It will take many weeks to recover the objects .in the first chamber and the contents in the other chambers in the tomb are still unknown. . The evidence formed thus far suggests that Tutankhamen was a coRegent with Akhenaton fcr some time, but on Akhenaton’s death returned to Thebes and re-embraced the orthodox worship of Ammon.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Association. London, Dec. 26. The Tinies Luxor correspondent states that treasures lurk even in the •dust of Tutankhamen’s tomb. Before any visitors are admitted all the dust lying on th© floor of the chamber is carefully swept up and sifted. This results in the rescue of a most interesting lot of broken bits of jewels and gold articles, which were evidently knocked off by robbers during their hurried withdrawal. The unchanging character of the East is again illustrated by the discovery of small baskets, round and oval.' These strongly resemble in workmanship and colour the baskets for which Esneh is nowadays famous. The Daily Mail representative at Luxor says that considerable stir has been caused in the Egyptological world by the announcement that the Egyptian Government conservator of antiquities is now drafting a new law enacting that henceforth all discoveries of antiquities shall become the property of the Egyptian Museum authorities, instead of being divided as formerly. A joint protest by international excavating parties is being drawn up for presentation to King Fuad and Lord Allenby.