The discovery was staggeringly complete. Most royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings had been looted in antiquity, but Tutankhamun's burial chambers remained nearly intact. Howard Carter's team spent nearly a decade meticulously cataloging over 3,000 objects, from golden chariots and thrones to personal items like board games and linen undergarments. The most famous artifact, the 22-pound solid gold death mask, has become a global symbol of ancient Egypt's artistry. The tomb's preservation provi