Tutankhamun's Treasure - A Brief Guide for KS2 Students

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BOOK NOWImagining History May 31, 20202 min read

Tutankhamun' s Treasure - A Brief Guide for KS2 Students

Updated: Sep 14 When Howard Carter first discovered Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 he unlocked around 5000 stunning treasures that had been hidden underground for thousands of years. Here are a few of them: br role presentation

Dagger

br role presentation Inside the burial wrappings of Tutankhamun himself, Carter found a pair of daggers. Both were stunning artefacts, but one of them was particularly unusual - the iron used to create the dagger contained a large percentage of nickel. br role presentation After many years of research, scientists have finally discovered where the iron from this dagger came from; br role presentation It came from a meteorite! Mind blown! br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation

Armour

br role presentation A 3000-year-old tunic of armour was discovered at Tutankhamun's tomb, made up of small leather 'scales' that interlocked (similar to those shown in the image) to protect the wearer's skin from enemy attacks. br role presentation This armour was originally thought to be ceremonial. It may have never even been worn by Tutankhamun himself. br role presentation But on closer inspection, damage on the edges of the leather scales implies that Tutankhamun not only wore it, but actually fought battles in it! Was Tutankhamun a Warrior King after all? br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation

Senet

br role presentation Tutankhamun was buried with five game boards. He used these to play games of Senet, a popular game played in Ancient Egypt where two players race their pieces across the squares to the finish. br role presentation Poorer Egyptian people would play Senet by scratching a grid into the sand, but wealthy Egyptians often had a board made especially for the game (similar to the one in the photo). br role presentation Some game boards were even reversible, with a Senet board on one side and a game Egyptologists have called Twenty Squares on the other. br role presentation br role presentation https://www.wired.com/2013/11/egyptian-mummies-afterlife-diet/

Packed Lunch

br role presentation It's a long journey to the afterlife and it's important to take some food for the road. So Tutankhamun's embalmers made sure to prepare a packed lunch. br role presentation No, sadly this was not a packed lunch like we know it, with sandwiches and crisps. Tutankhamun's lunch included 48 boxes of mummified meats, such as duck and beef. The meats would be dried with salt, bandaged and covered in resins like human mummies. Yum. br role presentation br role presentation

A Tale of Two Thrones

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One throne was not enough for Tutankhamun, this boy king required two thrones in the afterlife to rest his royal posterior! Also, just to point out, we're not saying that Tutankhamun had two bottoms and could sit on both thrones AT THE SAME TIME, as that would be silly. br role presentation Each throne is made from wood and is gold plated. The thrones are inlaid with ebony, ivory and precious stones. They are also exquisitely detailed; the back of the gold throne has a detailed image of Tutankhamun and his queen Ankhesenamun. br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation br role presentation

Boomerangs

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No, your eyes aren't tricking you, boomerangs were found in Tutankhamun's burial chamber! In fact, boomerangs had been used by Egyptians for hunting since the Old Kingdom - hundreds of years before Tutankhamun was even born. Hunters would throw them at birds from the safety of their marsh boats. br role presentation Many boomerangs were found in the tomb - some which return when thrown and others that do not! br role presentation Are you a teacher? Yes? Then you'll definitely want Imagining History to bring their 'Ancient Egypt: A Time Travel Tour' Interactive workshop to your school. br role presentation Our Award-Winning sessions combine role-play, storytelling, demonstrations and drama and performance to bring history to life for your students. br role presentation Find out more here! Further Reading: Tutankhamun - Pharaoh Profile How Did Tutankhamun Die? - Myth Buster An Interview With Howard Carter Tags: Ancient Egypt•Kids History Guides•FeaturedPost not marked as liked

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