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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
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Carter No.: 004

Handlist description: First doorway - blocking, sealing, and impressions of seals

Card/Transcription No.: 004-2


No. 4

The blocking of the entrance doorway at the bottom of the steps and leading to the descending passage, show traces of two successive openings and re-closings of a part of its surface: applied to the re-closed portions were seal impressions of the type (H), whereas the impressions that covered the untouched (original) part of the blocking of the doorway show repeatedly the prenomen of Tut.ankh.Amen.

NOTE: Re impressions of the type (H) - whereever the upper part of these impressions was sufficiently clear there was no sign of a cartouche above the Anubis animal.

Upon the plaster of the original unharmed part of the blocking fifty-seven seal impressions were visible at the time of the discovery. They proved to be 13 impressions of seal (A), 17 of seal (B), 8 of seal (C), 9 of seal (D), and 10 of seal (E). (1)

Upon the remaining portion of the second closing - originally a breach about one third in size of the doorway and occupying the whole of the upper southern corner - only seven seal impressions remained, and they were with fair certainty of type (H).

Stamped upon the surface of the plaster covering the stones of the third closing - covering a hole similarly situated as the first breach, but not quite so large - were twenty-eight impressions of one kind and of type (H).

(1) Note required upon the grouping of these several seals.

Card no. 004-2 relating to Carter no. 004
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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
Concept & Direction: Jaromir Malek
Web Page & Database Designs: Jonathan Moffett
Scanning & transcript: Sue Hutchison, Elizabeth Miles, Diana Magee, Kent Rawlinson