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Primary sourcePhotograph1920s

Removing the Roof of the Outer Shrine in Tutankhamun's Sepulchral Hall

Harry Burton · 1920s

A photograph of excavation workers dismantling the roof of the outer shrine from Tutankhamun's burial chamber.

Documents the dismantling of the shrine structures that surrounded Tutankhamun's sarcophagus during the tomb's excavation.

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Black and white photograph inside a tomb chamber. Wooden beams support a large carved wooden shrine roof being lifted or removed. Two men stand near stacked wooden crates, and a third man in a white headwrap and robe stands at right.
Harry Burton, removal of the outer shrine roof in Tutankhamun's sepulchral hall, 1920s. Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities, Sweden.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white photograph was taken by Harry Burton, photographer for Howard Carter's excavation team, during the dismantling of the great shrines surrounding Tutankhamun's sarcophagus. It shows workers removing the first roof section of the outermost shrine from the sepulchral hall, using improvised lifting equipment because the chamber was too cramped for normal tackle. The print is held by the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Sweden.

Why it matters

The image documents the practical challenges of early 20th-century archaeology: taking apart a massive ancient structure piece by piece inside a confined space without damaging it. It shows the labor and ingenuity behind the famous discovery, reminding students that uncovering Tutankhamun's tomb was slow, physical work carried out by a team, not just Carter alone.

Look closer

  • What makeshift tools and methods can you spot being used to move the heavy roof section?
  • Why might the excavators have needed to invent new techniques for this job?
  • Whose labor does this photograph highlight, and whose names are often left out of the story of this discovery?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Tutankhamun on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Photograph of Tutankhamun's Shawabti Figure

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Opening the Doors of the Fourth Shrine in Tutankhamun's Tomb

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