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!
In the beginning of the recording Fran and John are conversing on their own. John asks Fran if he is going to eat breakfast today.
This track DOES NOT contain any audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul
John explaining how the traveling group of Australians and New Zealanders came to be traveling together.
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Fran and John arrive at the restaurant for breakfast.
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Hussein Abdel-Rassoul points out Harry Burton’s photo of him wearing the necklace from King Tut’s tomb.
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Fran explains why he and John are
at the restaurant for breakfast.
at the restaurant for breakfast.
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Hussein Abdel-Rassoul brings a book to the table
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I guess you met Howard Carter. Looking at the photo within the photo.
This track DOES NOT contain any audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
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Hussein Abdel-Rassoul points out Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon in
the book discusses the photo of himself wearing the necklace.
This track contains audio from Hussein Abdel-Rassoul.
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John is not interested and wants to get going to beat the heat.
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Hussein is calling the boy helper.
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.
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