Excavation journals and diaries made by Howard Carter and Arthur Mace

Howard Carter's excavation diaries (transcripts and scans)

8th Season, 1929-30

This is Howard Carter's journal for the 8th excavation season of the tomb of Tutankhamun. No actual excavation work was carried out, instead Howard Carter spent most of the season negotiating a financial settlement on behalf of the Carnarvon estate which had financed most of the work on the tomb up to that point.

The journal is a bound buff-coloured volume with a printed "Egyptian Government" label on the front cover board, it measures 33.5 by 21.5 by 1.5 cm. and contains journal entries on 65 ruled pages. TAA Archive i.2.4, page 59. All entries are in Howard Carter's hand.

This transcript follows the format of the original document, and any insertions, deletions or duplications are indicated accordingly. Scans of the original journal pages are provided and are positioned to the right of the transcript, these are magnified by positioning the pointer on the image.

No work was done during this Season. Negotiations with the Eg.
Gov. with regard to some favourable settlement for the Carnarvon
Estate and heirs for work rendered, also with regard to
favourable conditions for the completion of the remaining work
to be done on behalf of the Eg. Gov., took the greater part of
the season - See conditions of concession agreed to with
the Eg. Gov. during Spring, 1930.

It was not until late in Sept. (1930) that the Eg. Gov. saw its
way to pay over to the Carnvarvon heirs the sum of 35971£E
covering the Carnarvon expenses for work rendered commencing
from the discovery to the completion of their part of the work in April
1929. The question of recompense for the Met. Mus. Art of N.Y.
for the assistance at their own sacrifice given during the whole
of the operations has yet to be considered by the Eg. Gov. they
taking over the responsibility from us.