Broken Quote by Howard Carter
“As we cleared the passage we found mixed with the rubble broken potsherds, jar seals, and numerous fragments of small objects; water skins lying on the floor together with alabaster jars, whole and broken, and coloured pottery vases; all pertaining to some disturbed burial, but telling us nothing to whom they belonged further than by their type which was of the late XVIIIth Dyn. These were disturbing elements as they pointed towards plundering.”
About This Quote
Source Archaeological Report: Excavation of Tomb KV55, Egypt, 1922
The artifacts indicate a disturbed burial from the late 18th Dynasty, suggesting possible ancient looting but without identifying the individual.
In simple terms: Disturbed royal tomb with mixed objects, hinting at ancient theft.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that incomplete evidence limits definitive conclusions.
Themes
archaeology
history
burial practices
looting
artifact analysis
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
historical
academic
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- academic research
- heritage preservation
- legal investigations
Key Concepts
Egyptology
provenance studies
Questions to Reflect On
- What methods could better identify the tomb’s owner?
- How does looting affect our understanding of ancient cultures?
A Different Perspective
The lack of clear provenance makes it hard to attribute the items to a specific person.
![“I think at the moment we did not even want to break the seal [on the inner chamber of the tomb of Tutankhamen], for a feeling of intrusion had descended heavily upon us... We felt that we were in the presence of the dead King and must do him reverence, and in imagination could see the doors of the…” quote by Howard Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/howard-carter-27604_break_i-think-at-the-moment-we-did-not-even-wa_166704.jpg)
