Plot introduction
ITVhascommissionedtheepicandcompellingstoryofHowardCarter’sdiscoveryofthetombofoneofAncientEgypt’sforgottenpharaohs,theboy-kingTutankhamun.Setagainstthegreatsweepofochresands,loomingcliffsandbakingheatofEgypt’sValleyoftheKings,thestoryunfoldsfrom1905whenCarter,aneminentBritisharchaeologistwhowemeetinhisearly20’s,isferventlyleadinganexpedition.AmidstthechaosscatteredacrosstheValleyfloor,Carter’sgrimdeterminationtofindlostantiquitiesisonlytooapparent.HehasaneasymannerwiththeEgyptianmenwhoworkalongsidehim,butwhentempersfrayCarterishotheadedandputsthedigandhiscareerinjeopardy.WithhislicensetodigrevokedbyCairo’sAntiquitiesService,Carterspendsyearsostracised,dishevelledandlivingroughandresortingtosellingpreviouslydiscoveredarchaeologicalrelicstobuyfood.AchancemeetingwithBritisharistocrat,theverydashing,suaveandeccentricLordCarnarvon,bringsachangeoffortunesastheenthusiasticamateurneedsanexperiencedarchaeologisttohelphimwithaseriesofrandomexcavations.CarterandCarnarvonbeginthemostunlikelyfriendship,inspiteoftheirdifferencesofbackgroundandcharacter.Privilegedandfastliving,CarnarvonkeepsfaithwithCarterandcontinuestobackhimwhennooneelsewill.Afteryearsofsearchingforthetomb,CarterandCarnarvonsuccessfullydiscoverthelastrestingplaceoftheboy-kingin1921againstalloddsandatgreatpersonalexpense.
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