King Tut replica tomb opens to public in Egypt | CNN

King Tut replica tomb opens to public in Egypt

Barry Neild, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 1:09 PM EDT, Fri May 2, 2014
A project to produce an exact replica of the tomb of Tutankhamun took four years.
Unpacking recreated murals —
A project to produce an exact replica of the tomb of Tutankhamun took four years.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Alicia Guirao
Laser scanners were used to map the walls in 3-D. The re-created panels were covered with a skin printed with photographic reproductions of the originals.
Erecting mural panels —
Laser scanners were used to map the walls in 3-D. The re-created panels were covered with a skin printed with photographic reproductions of the originals.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Alicia Guirao
The panels depict the young pharaoh's voyage to the afterlife following his death in 1327 B.C.
Final touches to mural panels —
The panels depict the young pharaoh's voyage to the afterlife following his death in 1327 B.C.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
The original tomb was discovered by archeologist Howard Carter in 1922, more than 3,000 years after it had been sealed.
Installing the ceiling —
The original tomb was discovered by archeologist Howard Carter in 1922, more than 3,000 years after it had been sealed.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Alicia Guirao
Though the old tomb remains open, it will eventually close to allow conservation work to preserve its crumbling contents.
Last roof panels put in place —
Though the old tomb remains open, it will eventually close to allow conservation work to preserve its crumbling contents.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
King Tutankhamun was 19 when he died, just 10 years into his reign. His mummified remains were sealed inside a sarcophagus.
Preparing the sarcophagus —
King Tutankhamun was 19 when he died, just 10 years into his reign. His mummified remains were sealed inside a sarcophagus.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Alicia Guirao
Tutankhamun's remains were placed in a climate-controlled glass case inside the original tomb in 2007 to prevent further decomposition.
The sarcophagus in place —
Tutankhamun's remains were placed in a climate-controlled glass case inside the original tomb in 2007 to prevent further decomposition.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
The interior of the facsimile of the tomb taken from the viewing gallery; the interior is reflected in the glass cover on top of the sarcophagus.
Visitor's view of sarcophagus —
The interior of the facsimile of the tomb taken from the viewing gallery; the interior is reflected in the glass cover on top of the sarcophagus.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
The replica tomb has been built underground near the entrance to the Valley of the Kings archeological complex.
Constructing an entrance to the tomb —
The replica tomb has been built underground near the entrance to the Valley of the Kings archeological complex.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
Tutankhamun's tomb is a key attraction in Egypt, which is struggling to attract tourists amid ongoing political and social upheaval.
Completed tomb at dusk —
Tutankhamun's tomb is a key attraction in Egypt, which is struggling to attract tourists amid ongoing political and social upheaval.
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez
Building King Tut's replica tomb in Egypt

Story highlights

The replica of King Tutankhamun's tomb in Luxor, Egypt, took four years to construct and install

Moisture from the breath of decades of visitors has caused the deterioration of original tomb

The replica was constructed by a Madrid-based team who are working to recreate other Egyptian tombs

CNN  — 

It’s not quite the Mummy Returns – more like an attempt to stop the Mummy disappearing in the first place.

Archeological experts have built an exact, full-sized replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt, recreating every tiny detail to save the original from being destroyed by visitors.

The replica tomb opened this week near the southern Egyptian city of Luxor, where tourists flock to see the ancient Valley of the Kings complex that houses the young pharaoh’s actual resting place.

Laser scanners and high definition printers were used to recreate the precise textures and colors of wall murals depicting the afterlife.

King Tutankhamun’s original tomb, built following the 19-year-old ruler’s death in 1327 B.C., was discovered almost intact by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922.

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But decades of tourism have taken their toll.

The replica is an exact copy of Tut's tomb
The replica is an exact copy of Tut's tomb
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez

Moisture from the breath of visitors has damaged the murals and walls, while temperature fluctuations have caused paint to flake off and cracks to expand.

Journey into the afterlife

Luckily, dampness isn’t an issue in the new tomb – some Egyptologists attending an official inauguration reportedly burst into tears when they saw how accurate it was.

The facsimile tomb recreates the paintings – which depict the young pharaoh’s journey into the afterlife – in their existing damaged form from images taken in 2009.

Carved masonry inside the structure, including the sarcophagus in the middle of the burial chamber that once contained King Tut’s mummy, have been recreated using resin.

Both the tombs are currently open to the public, but the plan is eventually to close the original to allow for conservation work.

And, no doubt, offer some peace and quiet to Tutankhamun, whose remains are still there, protected by a glass case.

Social and political turmoil

The new tomb also help safeguard one of the Egypt’s key attractions at a time when social and political turmoil is wreaking heavy damage on its tourism industry, pushing takings down by 43% according to some reports.

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Sob story: The replica is said to have reduced some to tears
Sob story: The replica is said to have reduced some to tears
Courtesy of Factum Arte/Ferdinand Saumarez

“Our heritage is something that gives Egypt its unique identity; preserving it through such projects is vitally important,” said Omayma El Husseini, a spokesman for Egypt’s tourism board.

“They also ensure visitors have the opportunity to experience pharaonic sites of significance, allowing them to stay for longer periods to fully appreciate the importance and relevance of such projects.”

The $690,000 replica is the work of Factum Arte, a Madrid-based conservation team also engaged in similar projects to recreate the important tombs of Queen Nefertari and Seti I.

“This remarkable project is a fine example of how new technology can preserve and indeed promote Egypt’s rich archaeological heritage,” James Moran, the European Union’s ambassador to Egypt, said at the ceremony to open the new tomb.

“It should also help to revive much needed tourism in the unique area of Luxor, something that is badly needed for the development of Upper Egypt.”

Undressing mummies