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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation
The Howard Carter Archives
Photographs by Harry Burton
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Carter No.: 239

Handlist description: Fourth (innermost) shrine

Card/Transcription No.: 239-12


(a)

To fly a vaulted roof the end wall of the building is continued up to the height of the apex of the vault. The courses of the flat especially made mud vault-bricks are then laid obliquely leaning against the end wall. This is done to obviate the effect of gravity when forming the vault, and to help the process a tenacious mud-mortar is used. The bricks are keyed with small stones or potsherds wedged in between the joints, and the vault is closed by a similar wall built up at the opposite end. This manifestly explains the meaning of the upright pieces at the ends of the vaulted roof covering this shrine.

Card no. 239-12 relating to Carter no. 239
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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