"One shudders to think how these objects might have fared had their discovery occurred two or even just one century prior to Carter’s 1922 field season."
While this makes for good sensationalism, the Donati and Drovetti collections acquired between 1750 and 1820 formed the basis for the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo (Museo Egizio in Turin, established in 1824). Archaeology and Egyptology wasn't new-- although it was rough, it was rough when Carter and Reisner were doing it, too. And stratigraphy was in use well before Reisner.
This might be clarified in the book, but I dislike how he misrepresents things in the article just to heighten the drama.
DiffusedReflection t1_iqu3ffz wrote
Reply to Howard Carter and Tutankhamun: a different view by MeatballDom
"One shudders to think how these objects might have fared had their discovery occurred two or even just one century prior to Carter’s 1922 field season."
While this makes for good sensationalism, the Donati and Drovetti collections acquired between 1750 and 1820 formed the basis for the largest collection of Egyptian artefacts outside Cairo (Museo Egizio in Turin, established in 1824). Archaeology and Egyptology wasn't new-- although it was rough, it was rough when Carter and Reisner were doing it, too. And stratigraphy was in use well before Reisner.
This might be clarified in the book, but I dislike how he misrepresents things in the article just to heighten the drama.