[Note: all dates have been standardized.]

The diary is hand-written in ink. It takes up thirty-two pages of a 'Walker's Loose Leaf Book' measuring some 21.5 by 32.8 cms. It is the property of the Griffith Institute and is catalogued as TAA i.2.2 in its Archive.

November 14, 1923.

Arrived in Luxor. Consulted with Carter re situation, and decided to return with him to Cairo same night.

November 15, 1923.

Saw Allenby & Tottenham. Conditions agreed to for the moment, but whether arrangement will work is an open question as there are considerable possibilities of further trouble to be stirred up.

November 16, 1923.

Carter, Merton & I returned to Luxor.

November 17, 1923.

Spent day unpacking and getting straight.

November 18, 1923.

To Valley in morning. Boys engaged in clearing out stairway down to wooden blocking. Wall round tomb has been made stronger, and ground cleared around.
Tomb 15 has been cleared and made ready for work. Outside the whole ground has been levelled off, so that we now have working accommodation & room for an open air studio and carpenter's shop.
Experimented with wax kettles & blower.
Engelbach to lunch at Carter's house to discuss arrangements for the winter.
Wrote to Quibell re unpacking boxes in the Museum.

November 19, 1923.

Carter opened up tomb, & he and Callender made a new outer door to take the place of last year's grille.
With Bethell's help I spent the day waxing & fitting back pieces of gold to the lion couch.

November 20, 1923.

Finished treatment of bed of Couch 35, and packed it.

November 21, 1923.

Spent some time in the tomb with Carter examining the shrine. Difficulties of removing are going to be enormous. On E side we have [] inches to spare; on other three sides only [] inches; and between roof of chamber and top of shrine [] inches. Outer shrine made in 19 sections, some of them measuring [] by []. Surfaces much too delicate to admit of any but the most careful of handling. Scaffolding must be got round shrine, and a means must be contrived of getting actually above the shrine. Sides and ends must be fastened in some way to prevent falling inwards or outwards.
Practically certain that the sections of the outer shrine will be too big to allow their being taken out of the chamber until the inner shrines have been dismantled. If so they will have to be stacked against the sides of the chamber.

Points of the compass marked at the four corners of the shrine. These wrongly placed. If errors were discovered at time of burial it was probably too late to change, if as we suspect, outer shrine cannot be taken out without dismantling inner ones.

Spent rest of day waxing & mending one side of lion-couch.

November 22, 1923.

Visit today from the Sirdar & party. Also, Mudir, Marmur and Hakimdar.
Treating other side of lion couch.

November 23, 1923.

Finished treatment of lion couch, and got it packed, start tomorrow on chariots.
Carter busy making a plan of the Burial Chamber.

November 24, 1923.

Started work on Chariot 122. Body in good condition except for platform, but harness & trappings in terrible shape, the leather harness almost entirely melted & run.

November 25, 1923.

Finished body of Chariot 122 and started on 120.

November 26, 1923.

Working on chariots all day.

November 27, 1923.

Market Day. Went over to Luxor.

November 28, 1923.

With Carter made a careful examination of Sepulchral Chamber with a view to the problems of the Partition Wall & erection of the shrines. Main problems were -
1. Was Partition Wall constructed before or after erection of shrines?
2. How were the enormous sections of the outer shrine introduced, and how handled in the very confined space.

1. In the first place, the paintings on the walls of the Sepulchral Chamber were made simultaneously, there being no difference between those on the Partition Wall, and those on the other walls.
Therefore: Partition wall existed before whole of painting was done.

2. In view of the confined space between the outer shrine and the N, W & S walls of the chamber, the painting would appear to have been done before the outer shrine at any rate was erected.
Therefore: Sections of the shrines must have been taken in through the doorway in the Partition Wall.
No. See under Dec. 6.

3. On the reveals of the doorway there are scores on the plaster and paint, and the edges of the inner corners are worn. This must have been done either by bringing heavy objects with difficulty through the doorway, or, more likely, by the removal of the scaffolding after the erection of the shrines.

4. The large side panels of the outer shrine are 450 long by 166 high. They could pass through the doorway, but only if the series of inner shrines not yet erected. Otherwise there would be no room to turn them.

It would seem likely, then, that the parts of the outer shrine at any rate were taken through the doorway after the painting of the Sepulchral Chamber had been completed, and stacked against the walls, as near as possible to their relative positions, and assembled afterwards.
No. See under Dec. 6.

It should be noted that the outer shrine (anyway) is wrongly orientated - i.e. N.W. corner of shrine is placed in S.E. corner of chamber. This we know from the eye-panel, which is at the S.E. corner, whereas it should be at the N.W., and from the fact that the cardinal points painted on the corners of the shrine as a guide are in their wrong positions. This also the case in second shrine, and perhaps in the others. Possibly an accidental mistake, a mistake impossible to rectify, once the sections were in position. On the other hand it may be deliberate, owing to the small capacity of the chamber. Difficult to see how it could have been accidental, as the cardinal points were already marked, and a large object like the eye-panel could hardly be overlooked.

If the shrine had been correctly orientated the swing doors would have been on the west side, and it would have been a matter of extreme difficulty to get at them. Moreover in this case, if room was left to open & close the swing doors the back of shrine would have practically blocked the entrance to the inner store chamber. This not insuperable as at the period there should have been a store-chamber on each side, and we know that the larger object in the store chamber must have been placed there before the shrines were erected. Afterwards there would not have been room to get them round the corner.
4. Larger objects at any rate must have been taken into store-chamber before shrines were erected.
Probable course of procedure. Sepulchral chamber painted in advance, partition wall included. At burial objects placed first in inner store chamber. Next sections of outer shrine introduced through door and leant against wall opposite their correct positions. Then mummy placed in sarcophagus & inner shrines erected. Finally outer shrine connected up.
No, see under Dec. 6.

If this were so why is partition wall necessary at all, as all objects could have been taken through a door in the natural rock.

November 29, 1923.

Objects from Sepulchral Chamber, between outer shrine & wall, sent up to No 15. Also one of the sentinel statues.
Still working on Chariot 120: cleaning with hot water, and a little ammonia to remove leather stains etc.

November 30, 1923.

Second statue sent up today. Antechamber now empty, and in readiness for the Partition Wall to be taken down. Spent most of day sorting over chariot material.

December 1, 1923.

Carter started removing partition wall.

Worked on harness remains from the chariots.

December 2, 1923.

Partition wall proved to be hollow above, either to save labour on construction, or to avoid having a heavy weight above wooden lintels. Discovered also that W corner of wall proper was chamfered off to make more room to admit large objects. This discovery will cause reconsideration of notes under Nov. 28th. See Dec. 6.

December 3, 1923.

First Press day. Only four turned up, all representing foreign papers.

Still working on chariots.

December 4, 1923.

Market Day.
Went to Luxor in afternoon for inoculation.

December 5, 1923.

Carter finished removal of Partition Wall.
Sir John Marshall came to lunch, and we had long discussion as to working of Antiquities laws. He is Director of Archaeological Survey in India, and is investigating conditions in Egypt.

December 6, 1923.

With Carter made reinvestigation of the problem of erecting the shrines.
1. The demolition of the partition wall had revealed the fact that there was a cutting away of part of the corner of rock between Antechamber and Sepulchral Chamber on the W. side. This presumably to facilitate the introduction of the long sections of cornice. The shape of the cutting, deepest at top favours this view, and the top of the cutting is about on the level of the cornices.
These sections of cornice could have been introduced without the cut, though not so conveniently. If, however, 2nd shrine was already erected, they probably could not have been introduced without cut. This a point that can be ascertained with certainty when cornice is removed.

2. The scores on reveal & corners of doorway referred to in notes under Nov. 28 would appear now to have been made by removal of scaffold poles rather than by introduction of shrine parts.

3. The painting could conceivably have been made after the assembling of the shrines: but it would have been very difficult. Would be easier if cornice parts were laid across top loose till painting was over.
As only a local light was used, possibly the confined space would not matter so much.
N.B. investigate paint more closely after removal of shrines, & examine parts for splashes.

My personal view at the moment (Carter not agreeing)
N. E & W walls painted before introduction of any material.
Then larger material of inner Store Chamber introduced.
Then all shrines assembled except S end of outer shrine. S end of shrine laid on ground or across top of shrine.
Then Partition Wall built and painted.
Then S end of shrine put in position.
Then objects placed round shrine.

If all the parts taken into chamber before shrines were assembled there is no sense in the cut:
Yes we found it necessary when we removed those larger part of the shrines
nor for that matter was there absolute necessity for a partition wall at all.
Investigate these points further when shrines are taken out.

? why elevation at both sides of roof of shrine <> instead of <>. Can there possibly be two mummies?
Dr. Scott came over for first time.

December 7, 1923.

Carter removed the two swing doors from the outer shrine.
Completed cleaning and sorting gold from chariot decoration.

December 8, 1923.

Carter removing objects from between outer and second shrines. They include two alabaster jars, one in "Union of the Two Lands" form, with side figures of the Nile, the other in the shape of some feline animal. Also a number of very fine ceremonial staves, maces, uas, fork bottom, and two tied together, one headed by a gold statuette of the King, and the other in silver.
Second shrine has upon it assembling directions with the numeral 3. Therefore presumably four shrines in all.
Newberry came over.

December 9, 1923.

Third shrine apparent through door.
Noting chariot material.

December 10, 1923.

Completed notes on chariot trappings. Body, pole and axle of 122 also noted.

December 11, 1923.

Market Day. To Luxor in afternoon for inoculation.

December 12, 1923.

Carter at home ill.
Lacau visited No. 15.
Harknesses and Lythgoes arrived.

December 13, 1923.

Interview with Lacau at Carter's house. Present Carter, Harkness, Lythgoe & self. Subject recent demands of Department for submission of names of staff for approval etc. Carter flatly refused to make any more concessions, & stated he stood by terms of his original concession. Result absolute deadlock. Lacau returns to Cairo tonight.
Harkness & Lythgoe visited tomb and 15.
15 native ladies to visit by request of government.

December 14, 1923.

Finished noting the two decorated chariots.
Mrs Harkness, Mrs Lythgoe & Miss Stilman over in Valley.

December 15, 1923.

Waxed chariot 120.
Several trays of new material brought up to 15.
Telegram came summoning Carter to Cairo.

December 16, 1923.

Left for Cairo.

December 17, 1923.

To Alexandria to fetch Winifred and Margaret. Back to Cairo in evening.

December 18, 1923.

Went with Carter to see Tottenham, who stated that the Minister of Public Works wanted to see Carter in the afternoon, as he believed he could talk him over.
Carter had a long consultation with Minister in afternoon. Decisions held over till next day.

December 19, 1923.

Carter saw Allenby in morning & then went on to the Minister. Refused to comply with government demands, informing him that he would write to confirm. Afterwards he lunched with Allenby.
Left for Luxor in evening.

December 20, 1923.

Spent the day unpacking and fixing the family.
Carter had a phone message from Tottenham asking him to withdraw his letter, which he refused to do.

December 21, 1923.

To Valley in morning, where I spent the day on chariots.
Carter returned.

December 23, 1923.

Waxing parts of chariot.
Harknesses & Lythgoes in the Valley in morning.

December 23, 1923.

Winifred & Margaret to see the tomb and No. 15.
Carter got first section of roof off outer shrine.
Still waxing chariots.

December 24, 1923.

Morning only in Valley.

December 25, 1923.

Holiday.

December 26, 1923.

Started packing chariots. Carter found that the lower steps of the staircase, and the door lintel were artificial, it having been necessary to cut them away in order to get sections of the big shrine into the tomb. ?

December 27, 1923.

Second section of roof removed from the shrine. This proved to have been put on wrong way round. Presumably there was not enough room to turn it round to correct the mistake.
Sir Herbert Samuel & party to visit the tomb.
Still finishing and packing chariots.

December 28, 1923.

Third roofing block taken off shrine. This section like the second was wrong way round. The first section & not the second and third was put in wrong.
Packed body of chariot 122.
The Harknesses and Lythgoes over in the afternoon .

December 29, 1923.

Becoming increasingly evident as shrine is removed how carelessly the original work in the tomb was done - not the original carpentry work, but the fitting together. The Pall hung all askew. The Shrine as already stated was orientated wrong. The two upper boards were wrong way round. Considerable force was used in putting together, and distinct hammer marks were visible both on the gold and on the wood below. This shows how strong the wood gesso gold combination was originally. Now the wood is almost as good as ever it was, but owing to shrinkage the gesso has parted company, & has to stand on its own for the most part without a firm backing.
Visitors trying all sorts of schemes to get into tomb. One party offered Bethell a bribe of 25 piastres to let them in. A French journalist tried to force his way into laboratory, and had to be ejected almost by main force.

December 30, 1923.

Helped Carter take off the pall. The sides & top edges of the outer shrine had been strengthened to carry the weight. Two strong planks were placed across and on these we knelt, moving them forward alternately. Starting at one end we first picked off the rosettes - of bronze covered with gold foil - each of them had been sewn to the pall in four places. Some came off readily enough, but with others the threads were still so strong that they had to be cut with scissors. This was necessary, both to reduce the weight, and to avoid tearing the fabric when it was rolled.
A long roller has been prepared, to rest on the edges of the shrine. The end of the pall was placed carefully over this, and then rolled gradually up over the roller, the rosettes being taken off from one section over another.
The pall was supported on uprights at the four corners, with additional ones in the centre of the two sides. At the top there was a rail into which the supports <> fitted into staples. In front of the door there were two additional bars, running two thirds of the way down, joined to the side supports by nails. These bars were bolted like doors, but in their present position they could not have been used as doors, the bolts being merely a former survival of an earlier use.

December 31, 1923.

Press day.
Packed away last of the chariot material, and unwrapped and cleaned one of the two black statues.

January 1, 1924.

Market Day.

January 2, 1924.

Stayed in bed. Carter came round in the evening, and after talking it over we decided to open up the doors tomorrow.

January 3, 1924.

At 2.45 the ceremony of opening the doors began. There were present Engelbach (by invitation), Harkness, Lythgoe, Winlock and the ordinary members of the staff, including Newberry.
The doors of the outermost shrine had been removed to facilitate work of recording. The seals from the second had been photographed and removed some days previously, and the doors were wide open. The third door stood clear. At top and bottom there large ebony bolts run into staples. In the centre there were two smaller bronze staples, and wound round these to form three strands, the final end looping round all three strands to hold them together there was a cord. This was sealed with a variant on the ordinary Royal Necropolis seal, there being a cartouche over the back of the jackal, and it is a further illustration of the carelessness with which all the work in the tomb was done that the sealing was partly on the cord, partly on the right staple, and nowhere near the knot at all.
This seal, which had previously been photographed, was carefully detached, and then the upper and lower bolts were drawn and an attempt was made to open the doors. For the moment this proved impossible, the threshold of the second shrine being too high to allow them to swing, but the difficulty was overcome by slightly levering up the front and raising the cornice to allow the doors to clear at the top.
The door of the fourth shrine now became visible, and that it was the final one was rendered almost certain by the fact that upon it were represented the figures of Isis and Nephthys with outstretched protective wings. It had the same ebony bolts above and below, and in the centre the same staples for the sealing cord, but in this case there was no cord and no seal.
Unlike the last these doors opened without any difficulty, and within there came to view an enormous sarcophagus of crystalline sandstone, filling apparently the entire space within the fourth shrine. At the corners of this sarcophagus carved in high relief upon the stone itself there were the four protective goddesses of the dead, Isis, Nephthys, Neith and Selket, the two latter being those at the end nearest the door. Their faces were turned away from the door and could not be seen; their arms and wings were outstretched along the sides and ends of the sarcophagus. The entablature comprised a frieze of inscription, a torus moulding and a feathered cavetto cornice. The hieroglyphs of the inscription were filled in with paint, as also were details of the goddesses. The whole decoration was incised and in heavy relief. At the bottom there was a ring of dark colour imitating the bronze rim to the bottom of the shrines.

Details of decoration of the doors

1. Outside Panels in centre with deities, & ornamentation as on sides?
Inside Inscription only?

Check

2. Outside R King before Harakhte, with Maat behind him.
L " " Osiris, " Isis " "
Inside R 2 Deities of the Underworld, the inner one holding a knife in either hand, the outer a knife in the left hand, a palm leaf in the right.
L. Do. Do

3. Outside R. Similar deities.
L. " "
Inside R. Guardian Nephthys
L. Guardian Isis

4. Outside R Isis
L Nephthys
Inside R. Isis
L. Nephthys

Each of the three inner shrines (? outer) has a winged disk over the doors, with a feathered cornice above. Each door inside and out has a conventional (dado) panelling below, continuing round whole shrine.
All four shrines were marked at corners with the cardinal points, and all were put in wrong. Therefore the sarcophagus must either itself be wrongly oriented, or wrongly placed with regard to the shrines. These orientation marks were scratched into the gold, as were also other directions such as <>. There were other builder's or carpenter's marks, such as <>, <>, <> in black paint.
The representations upon the doors of inner shrines mark a regular progress. First the King himself, making offerings to gods. Then guardian deities of the underworld with knives to protect him & palm leaves to ?, and finally the protective goddesses.

January 4, 1924.

Spent part of morning in tomb making notes. Rest of day noting various objects in 15.
One of the Native Inspectors with family to visit 15.

January 5, 1924.

Tottenham visited tomb & 15.

January 6, 1924.

Carter stayed at home.
Worked on statue, <> staves etc.

January 7, 1924.

Waxing head of Statue 22 slowly with a pippette. Care has to be taken to keep wax off the black parts, as the resin would melt & run.

January 8, 1924.

Market Day.

January 9, 1924.

Packed one cow from couch, bases of couches, & two or three smaller things. Rest of day on statue.
Carter fixing tackle over shrines to enable him to deal with the successive roofs.
Letter from Quibell to Lythgoe re Burton & myself working in Museum in Spring.

January 10, 1924.

Whole day on statue with Lucas.
Carter found roof of second shrine was put on with large bronze tongues, which refused to come out, and therefore, from additional height they gave, making it much more difficult to move in the confined space.

January 11, 1924.

Visit from the Astor party.
Working on statue.

January 12, 1924.

Statue again.
Carter has removed two pieces of cornice of outer shrine. Difficulty of cleaning is that the scaffolding necessary for one job makes it impossible to do the next job.

January 13, 1924.

S. side of cornice of outer shrine removed. Finished waxing statue standing, and put it on its back.

January 14, 1924.

Press day.

January 15, 1924.

Market Day. Went to Luxor for inoculations.

January 16, 1924.

Finished statue, & started on sticks.
Carter got on section off roof of second shrine.

January 17, 1924.

Carter took E section off roof of third shrine. His idea was that then it would be much easier to have the solid stone sarcophagus to stand on in dealing with the remaining sections. Instead he found that the innermost shrine had a roof [in] one solid piece, not made like the others which were <> in section, but like the top of a sarcophagus <>. This will certainly be heavier than any of the other sections. Plans had necessarily to be changed, and the remaining sections of shrines 2 & 3 must be removed before this innermost lid can be touched.
Plan of working is as follows. Two wooden rollers attached to beams are suspended above the shrine roofs to serve as raising tackle. These are so arranged that the frame in which they sit can be pushed from one side of the room to the other. The sections are raised by these rollers, and brought opposite the door. There they are bound on to ropes fastened to a beam in the centre of the antechamber, down which they slide. When clear of the door the section is taken over by four workmen, and the ropes removed.

January 18, 1924.

Stayed at Carter's house to have a conference with Maxwell about the general situation, Did not go up to Valley.

January 19, 1924.

Spent most of morning photographing and wrapping statue 22. In afternoon finished and got it into its box.
Breasted came up in afternoon.

January 20, 1924.

Prince Arthur of Connaught to see tomb in the afternoon.

Working on sticks.

January 21, 1924.

Finished packing first statue and got it out of the way. Brought up second statue, & stood it up for treatment.
Carter removed 2nd section of roof of third shrine. Now only remains the roof of the fourth shrine, but this being in one piece too heavy and large to move without reconstructing scaffolding. Began removing cornice sections from first shrine.

January 22, 1924.

Market Day.
Fantasia for Mr Harkness's birthday.

January 23, 1924.

Started work on second statue. Condition worse than the first in that black resin had melted and & run down all over gold.
Carter moved sides of outer shrine & leant them against wall.

January 24, 1924.

Continued work on statue, & started on second tray of sticks.
Carter at work taking shrines apart.

January 25, 1924.

Statue & sticks.
Breasted & Gardiner over.
All outermost shrine now taken apart. Doors of second shrine removed & part of cornice. Frame of third shrine door all in one piece.

January 26, 1924.

Stayed at home discussing action to be taken after receipt of Maxwell's letter.

January 27, 1924.

Continued work on statue.

January 28, 1924.

Press day.

January 29, 1924.

Market day.

January 30, 1924.

Mr and Mrs Newberry started working on pall. In the afternoon, in presence of the archaeologists of the Western Bank, Carter unwrapped the five sticks - including the gold statuette stick, the silver statuette stick, bows, beetle-wing sticks etc. The statuettes on the gold and silver sticks were very definitely those of a young boy.

January 31, 1924.

All morning on statue.
Carter finished removal of second shrine. Between this and third, on S & W sides there were long ostrich feather fans, and on S & N sides bows and arrows (Note exactly tomorrow). In the afternoon with Harkness and Lythgoe had a conference on the situation and decided to wire Maxwell to come up again.

February 1, 1924.

The fans referred to yesterday had elaborate gilt handles, one shows a gazelle hunt. To conform to position of fan-bearers on chariots both fans should have been on W side. There were two bows and arrows on S side, & one bow & arrows on N side. The other N bow was resting on top of shrine.
Carter cleared whole of 3rd shrine. Now only fourth remains.

February 2, 1924.

Turned second statue on back for treatment. Bethel working on sticks.
Carter stayed at home this morning to consult with Maxwell, Lythgoe & Harkness re letter to Government.
In afternoon he raised the lid of 4th shrine so that lid of stone sarcophagus became visible. Shape W <> set in. Lid was of granite painted red to imitate the sandstone of the body of the coffin - another instance this of the carelessness & hurry of the work in the tomb.
Re orientation. On stone coffin Isis and Nephthys are at head end, & Neith & Selk at foot. On fourth shrine these are reversed. All shrines right through have their orientation marks wrong way round, including marks on the tongues. i.e. stone sarcophagus is correctly placed, & shrines are deliberately set up wrong. The doors of shrines should be at the head end of sarcophagus. The original mistake was in the construction of the tomb chambers. If the shrines had been put in as intended, ingress to inner storechamber would have been impossible, and access to shrine doors extremely difficult. The scenes on the fourth shrine are in relief, & not incised like those of the others.

February 3, 1924.

This morning Carter removed sides from the fourth shrine & left disclosed the stone sarcophagus. Lid was naos shape inset. Sarcophagus proper consisted of -
(a) Cavetto cornice
(b) Torus moulding
(c) Frieze band of incised inscription
(d) Panel of the goddesses
(e) Dado of 'dads' & 'thets'.
(f) Painted band to imitate the bronze bottoms of the shrines.

At the four corners there were the figures of the four protection goddesses, carved in high relief, with details - eyes, jewellery etc. - picked out in colour: Isis & Nephthys at head (west) and, Neith & Selk at foot. The figures supported the coffin, reaching with their arms as far as they could stretch, & with wings outspread, crossing at ends, meeting on sides. Shorter inscriptions (invocations of deities) on ends and sides. On each side, at west end, a single uzat eye incised.
The four corners rested on thin blocks of alabaster. On S. side, in middle, there was a large painted wooden `dad', its base projecting under the sarcophagus. Sarcophagus painted with a wash of red (?)
Lid not of sandstone, but of granite. This had been broken in two, the crack being filled up with plaster. At west end a winged disk, part relief, part incised. Also three vertical lines of incised inscription, down centre and at sides. The hieroglyphs in the inscriptions, or body at any rate were filled in with colour.
The lid yet another instance of the haste and carelessness with which the work in the tomb was carried out. Probably the original lid was broken in the manufacture, or in transit, and there was no time to procure another suitable block of stone.
The goddess figures are striking enough, but of course are not to be compared with the free-standing wooden figures in the inner store-chamber. They follow a curious convention. Lower part of bodies turned so that back and front of body is represented, one on one side of corner, the other on the other, whereas the upper part of the figure is square to the corner, and holds it in a close embrace. The heads of Neith & Selk face westwards, those of Isis & Nephthys north and south respectively, i.e. all four are directing their gaze towards the head of the king.
Size of sarcophagus proper
Lid rises.
Certainly the finest sarcophagus of its kind known.

February 4, 1924.

In morning arranged programme with Carter, & wired to Minister of Public Works, Tottenham and Lacau. Official opening of sarcophagus provisionally fixed for Feb. 12, and a Press view of sarcophagus on Feb. 7. Carter to go to Cairo to see Minister on night of Feb. 6.
Spent whole day on statue, and at last managed to flatten down collar. One more day's work should see it finished.
Bethell working on sticks.

February 5.

Market Day. We all went for a trip on the Khonsu to Gebelên.

February 6, 1924.

Harknesses & Lythgoes went off to Dendera. Carter left for Cairo to see Minister.
Finished waxing of statue 29, & waxed several sticks.

February 7, 1924.

American Minister and party.
Statue finished. Noting sticks.

February 8, 1924.

Working all day on sticks.
Lythgoes and Harknesses returned.

February 9, 1924.

Carter returned from Cairo. Came down to lunch with him to talk over programme of opening. Fixed for Tuesday, Feb. 12. Press View Wednesday.

February 10, 1924.

Working all day on sticks.
Carter cleared away roof of fourth shrine, so sarcophagus now stands clear.

February 11, 1924.

Final preparations made for the raising of the sarcophagus lid tomorrow. In order to raise in one piece Carter had placed angle irons down the sides and fastened to the protruding ends the ropes to which the pulleys were attached. At either end there was a one ton differential.
A communication from the Under Secretary of Public Works, enclosing an order of procedure of the opening, couched in very rude terms, and stating that Carter must not invite more than twelve to be present, including his own staff.
On Carter's list there were seventeen - Harkness, Lythgoe, Winlock, Davies, Breasted, Gardiner, Newberry, Mond, Aston, Foucart, Bruyère, Mace, Burton, Lucas, Callender, Bethell, Derry. In reply Carter asked the Under Secretary, who had been sent up to represent the Minister, to meet him in the morning to discuss the matter.

February 12, 1924.

Moh. Pasha Zaghlul arrived in the morning, and while Carter was showing him the tomb Lacau came posting up. We moved up to No 15 for quiet and there discussed the matter. After some argument Zaghlul & Lacau agreed to the list of visitors.
The question of a visit to the tomb on the following day (Press Day) of the wives & families of the scientists concerned was then brought up. Invitations to these had already gone out for about 20 in all. Lacau raised objections. Zaghlul stated he had no objections himself, but must wire his chiefs for instructions. So the matter was left for the moment.
During this interview both Zaghlul & Lacau made a particular point of the fact that Lucas was a government official, and insisted that he be placed on the government side of the list of visitors and not on Carter's.
At 3 the party assembled and filed into the tomb for the ceremony. It was discovered afterwards that two Egyptian officials, including a junior officer of the Police were introduced into the tomb, who had not been on the original list.
Planks had been placed in the antechamber for the visitors to stand on so that they could look down into the Sepulchral Chamber, and it is worthy of note that the Egyptian officials appropriated the front plank, Breasted being the only outside scientist who got a place. Subsequently Lacau made one of them, the Luxor native Inspector, make room for Gardiner.
In the Sepulchral chamber forces disposed as follows -
Three workmen to east differential, Callender and a fourth workmen at west differential: Burton with his movie camera on the steps leading down, Mace on north side of sarcophagus to make the official notes, Carter directing.
At a given signal the chains were stretched and the lid slightly raised. Then a pause to adjust tackle and secure an exact balance. This done the word was given to raise, and the lid swung steadily upwards. At first sight nothing could be seen within but a mass of cloth. Then looking closer we saw that this was a kind of shroud placed upon the top of a large anthropoid coffin, covering it entirely except for a few inches at the west end where the upper part of the head was bare. The raised foot end of the coffin came within about two inches of the top of the sarcophagus, the head some few inches lower. The shroud, except for the small space above mentioned at the head, completely covered the coffin, and hung down at the sides right to the bottom of the sarcophagus.
At this point we had to restrain our curiosity while Burton made some photographs. Then Carter and I set to work to roll back the shroud. We found that it consisted of two sheets of very fine linen. The uppermost was laid loosely over the coffin, reaching from the ankles to about the eyes. Its sides hung downwards over the sides of the coffin, and reached down to the very bottom of the sarcophagus. Up the centre of this sheet there was a sewn seam. Resting on this sheet & fallen at the sides there were a number of fragments of granite from the crack in the coffin. We may also note here that on the under side of the lid of the sarcophagus, to hold the two pieces together, there was a large dowel hole. The actual dowel was not there, but had presumably fallen to the side of the coffin. The hole was coated with red plaster.
Starting from the head end the first shawl was carefully rolled down & over the feet.
The second sheet had been laid over the body with a slight excess at the foot and, this excess being tucked down between coffin and sarcophagus. It extended up to just beyond the forehead, at which point it folded back and stretched as far as the waist. Starting at this end it was rolled up towards the head and then downwards.
In this last stage of the rolling it must have been a thrilling sight for the spectators, & we heard them gasp as the head of the coffin was disclosed to view. They had the best of it, for we who were manipulating the cloth were unable to get a clear view until we had completed our task.
The coffin when it had been laid bare was a perfectly magnificent sight, covered throughout with gold & beautifully worked. From the forehead projected the heads of the royal uraeus and vulture, the emblems of the two kingdoms. Of them the vulture head in particular was beautifully modelled. It had inlaid eyes of crystal. A pathetic touch was added by the fact that encircling & uniting the heads of the uraeus and vulture there was a tiny wreath of flowers. The face, beautifully modelled, and evidently a real portrait, was covered with thick sheet gold, in contradistinction to the rest of the coffin which was gilding of the ordinary type. The hands were crossed upon the chest. In the right was the flail: in the left the crook sceptre, independent pieces these of gold & blue faience. At the sides of the coffin, engraved upon the gold, were the figures of two protective goddesses, their arms and wings outstretched to encircle the body of the King.
The coffin itself rested upon a low wooden bier, with lions' heads at the head, very similar to those on the throne.
It was decided to stop work for the year at this point, as further cleaning could not be undertaken without a long and uninterrupted period ahead.
We should note that immediately on coming out of the tomb the police officer who was an unauthorised spectator gave to Valentine Williams of Reuter's a full account of the whole proceedings.

February 13, 1924.

Early this morning Carter received a note from Under Secretary, saying that he had received a wire from the Secretary absolutely prohibiting the ladies visit in the afternoon. He reported the matter to us and we felt that we must refuse to carry on any further work, as this was not only an insult to us, but a clear sign that the government were going to carry their policy of interference to even further lengths. Under such conditions scientific work became impossible.
Carter, Lythgoe and I went over to Luxor to consult Breasted, Gardiner & Newberry. On the river bank we met the Marmur and an officer of the police, the latter of whom handed Carter the following Order -

His Excellency the Minister of Public Works, having replied by telegram that he regretted that he was unable to authorize the visit of the wives of Mr Carter's collaborators for Wednesday 13th February. His Excellency the Under Secretary of State has just passed to me the order to forbid until further notice, entry to the tomb to all ladies who have not received ministerial authorization as journalists.
In consequence, Mohammed Eff. Shaaban, Antoun Effendi Youssef and Ibrahim Eff. Habib, must forbid entry to the tomb to all ladies who have not a written authorization.
It goes without saying that they should carry out this order with all desirable courtesy. Mr Carter has been advised of this measure.

Directeur Général
Service des Antiquités
(Signed) P. Lacau

Luxor, 13 February, 1924

The Marmur asked if Carter would lend him his car to take him to Mr. Mond's work. Knowing where he was really going Carter replied that he would let him have it as a friend, but that if he were taking anyone with him he could not lend it. The Marmur hesitated & finally Carter told his driver to go home.
We then went over to Luxor and had a conference with Breasted, Gardiner and Newberry. It was agreed that in view of the Government's repeated interferences of which this was the culminating example, the staff should refuse to carry on work until things were put on a more satisfactory footing. A statement to this effect was drawn up and typed, to be put on the notice board in the hotel.
Carter and I then went to call on the Under Secretary on his boat but found he was not there. The statement was put up on the Notice Board of the hotel at 12.30 p.m.
Lunched with James who had come up to see Carter & who professed utmost sympathy. He advised sending a telegram to Premier which Carter did. In the afternoon we called on the Under Secretary at about 2.30, and Carter announced that he had closed the tomb & was going to take steps. The Under Secretary seemed to think the whole thing was a joke.
We then returned to the hotel, and set Merton going on statements to be telegraphed to the Times. On our way across we called in at the Chonsu to see Harkness and Lythgoe.
5.45 p.m.
At some time in the course of the day an order was issued, signed by Lacau, to the Antiquities Inspector, to refuse permission to anyone to enter either the tomb or No. 15. In any case the Marmur & a police officer had been ordered to the Valley to enforce the law about ladies' visit before Carter had done anything to show whether he intended to comply with the order or not.
In this connection an account of the Marmur's movements will be of interest.
He was ordered to the Valley some time in the morning. Meeting Carter on river bank he tried to obtain loan of car, camouflaging his movements by saying he only wanted it to take him to Mond's excavations. Failing in this he arbitrarily commandeered a cab which had been ordered by a party of tourists, and drove off in it, leaving the tourists stranded. At Mond's he left the carriage & borrowed M's car to drive him & his party to the Valley. There he told the chauffeur to come back for him at about 3 o'clock. Meanwhile Mond had found out what was up and refused to let his car go back. After waiting an hour or so he telephoned the Omdeh to go and ask Winlock to send our car for him. We got the message on our return at about six o'clock, and Winlock replied that as he was in the Valley for the express purpose of keeping our wives out of the tomb it was hardly up to us to fetch him away from it. Eventually he left the Valley by donkey at about 6.15 p.m.

February 14, 1924.

Went round to Carter's in the morning. Answer came from Premier saying that he approved of action of the Minister, and stating that the Government were entirely within their rights.
Carter's reis reports that the police force in the Valley have been increased to ten, and that he was interfered with when he tried to sweep the steps leading down to the tomb.
In the afternoon Carter went over to call on Harkness & Lythgoe, who were delaying departure another day to watch events.

February 15, 1924.

In the morning Carter, with Winlock as witness, went up to Valley to get definite proof that he was refused access to the tomb. The Marmur was there, but he stated that he was only over there with friends. Ibrahim Eff. showed him an order signed by Lacau stating that no-one was to enter either the tomb or No. 15, neither Carter, nor anyone else. Spent the afternoon writing up diary.

February 16, 1924.

Wire from Maxwell saying that he was arriving tomorrow morning.
French papers in Cairo virulent in their abuse of Carter. Also quote letters from Lacau to the Minister written in January, in which he urged the latter to stand firm. One of them also contained the statement that Carter took fees from the Cairo and Luxor hotels. Went over to lunch with Carter, and saw Breasted and Newberry.

February 17, 1924.

Maxwell arrived. He and Carter went up to Valley to see if order excluding Carter was still in force. On return dispatched a telegram to Minister P. W. demanding right to enter tomb & 15 to carry out certain necessary work to safeguard objects during the interval that must elapse before any work could be resumed. If Government refuse this his idea was to immediately issue a writ. In any case he stated that Carter should refuse under any circumstances to deliver up keys.

February 18, 1924.

Interview with Maxwell in the morning. Rest time writing up White Book.
Telegram arrived from Minister in answer to Carter's stating that he could enter tomb if he would prepare for visits. Carter replied refusing to do this unless an apology was forthcoming, and assurance of no more interference.

February 19, 1924.

Working at Carters all day. After tea went over to Luxor.
Heard that Engelbach had been informed that all visits to tomb were indefinitely postponed.

February 20, 1924.

Stayed at home writing, as Carter was in Luxor to meet Allenby.
Eclipse of the moon.

February 21, 1924.

Working all day on statement of case.
Telegram from Minister that Council of Ministers had passed an arrêté confiscating the tomb, and stating that it would shortly be reopened by Government.
Letter from Maxwell stating that he had had an interview with the Minister, and that, finding that they would not recede from their position, had set the writs in motion.

February 22, 1924.

Telegram from Lacau saying he was to open the tomb at 2 p.m, and asking Carter and his collaborators to be present. Later in morning a letter in similar terms sent by hand from steamer. Carter replied that he failed to see why the tomb should be opened today, and considering that the question of sequestrationship was to come up in the Courts tomorrow, and the question of safeguarding the objects was not urgent, but could well be left until after the decision of the Court.
At about a quarter to two Lacau drove up the road, and stopping at the turn to Carter's house sent a policeman with a letter asking for the keys, saying that if they were not forthcoming by 2.30 he would break open the gates. Carter replied in writing, refusing to deliver up keys, and making a formal protest against Government's action.
From reports received from Moyne, and from Carter's reis, we learn that there went to the Valley on this occasion Lacau, Engelbach, Baraize, Mudir, Marmur, Commandant of Police for district, a member of the Department of Justice, a mechanic with assistants, and 33 soldiers and police, camel corps, cavalry and infantry. The locks on wooden door had been sawn out, & those of steel gate filed off. The tomb had then been entered and apparently various dispositions made therein, as the party remained in it about an hour. They had then emerged & put government locks on the doors. After this they moved up to No. 15, but apparently contented themselves there with filing off locks and replacing with another or others.
Working all day on White Book.

February 23, 1924.