The Foreign Interference in Governing the Archaeological Work in Egypt Following the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb

Abstract

The early beginning of the Twentieth Century witnessed many major foreign archaeological expeditions in Egypt. All bodies engaged in excavation work in Egypt had worked under the "Antiquities Law of 1912" since the date of its enactment in 1912. Accordingly, the excavator had the right to get half of the discovered objects. In 1922, the Egyptian Antiquities Service announced their intention to amend this Law so that the Cairo Museum had the right to take what it wanted without any formalities. This paper illustrates the causes of the Egyptian Antiquities Law amendment, the opposition to the Law amendment proposal by persons and institutions engaged in archaeological work in Egypt, the justifications of the Egyptian authorities for such a change in policy regarding the division of discovered objects, and the attempts of foreign institutions and governments to obtain the Egyptian official approval for the assurances given by the Director General of the Egyptian Antiquities Service Pierre Lacau to the scientific institutions working in Egypt. Whilst the new proposed law was not ratified, excavators' presumed entitlement to 50% of finds ended. The article relies mainly on investigating the relevant historical documents in the National Archives of the United Kingdom.