Sheikh Hussein Abdel-Rassoul holds a framed photo of himself as a young boy wearing the ornate necklace from King Tut’s tomb. The photo of him as a boy was taken by photographer Harry Burton. © Francis T. Casey, Jr.
July 1989
We went to a restaurant across the Nile from Luxor in Gurna for breakfast. After breakfast Sheikh Hussein Abdel-Rassoul invited us for tea and told us about Howard Carter, Lord Carnarvon, King Tut’s tomb, King Tut’s necklace, and more. I recorded our conversation on a cassette tape recorder.
Now available to the public for the first time you can listen to the recently uncovered audio recordings of my conversation with the boy who found the first step leading to King Tut’s tomb!
Harry Buton’s photograph of the Hussein Abdel-Rassoul provided the waterboy with a source of income for the rest of his life. He posed with the photograph near Tutankhamen’s tomb, explaining to visitors that it was he who discovered the site.
After Hussein died, his son took his place in the valley. He stood with the framed photograph and continued to tell his father’s story.
For many years only Westerners earned the credit for the archeological discoveries in Egypt. For information exploring the current state of the field of Egyptology as practiced by Egyptians, showcasing its achievements, addressing its challenges, and identifying ways to enhance the field, please visit https://egyptianegyptology.org/
I would like to continue to tell the story here with this website. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the audio recordings will provide Hussein Abdel-Rassoul’s descendants with a source of income as well.
Recently uncovered rare audio recordings of Hussein Abdel-Rassoul now available to the public for the first time!
Out of stock
A pause in the conversation
This track DOES NOT contain any audio from Hussein Abdel- Rassoul.
Out of stock
Hussein Abdel-Rassoul says that people from Egypt travel to the
west too.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
Fran asks who was the first to find
King Tut’s tomb.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
A continuation of Fran’s question
above
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
A continuation of Fran’s question
above.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
Hussein Abdel-Rassoul calls the boy
helper in Arabic
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
John wants to get going to beat the
heat.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
Hussein Abdel-Rassoul says a
blessing into the cassette recorder
in Arabic.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Out of stock
Hussein Abdel-Rassoul asks about
the cassette recorder.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
Notice: Due to the age of the recording and the background noise the audio is best listened to using headphones.
Copyright Notice
All Rights Reserved.
All material (audio, text, photographs) appearing or derived from (transcripts from audio) the 4November1922 and
fournovember1922 websites (“content”), unless otherwise noted, is protected by copyright under U.S. Copyright
laws and other countries, and is the property of Francis T. Casey, Jr. or the party credited as the provider of the
content. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, publish, display, perform, modify, create derivative works,
transmit, or in any way exploit any such content, nor may you distribute any part of this content over any network,
including a local area network, sell or offer it for sale, or use such content to construct any kind of database. You
may not alter or remove any copyright or other notice from copies of the content on 4November1922 and
fournovember1922 websites. Copying or storing any content except as provided above is expressly prohibited
without prior written permission of Francis T. Casey, Jr., or the copyright holder identified in the individual content’s
copyright notice. For permission to use the content on the 4November1922 and fournovember1922 websites, please
use our online permissions form.