100 years ago today (November 4th) British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered King Tutankhamun’s legendary tomb. This famous discovery was essential in the field of archaeology, as it became historians’ primary source of knowledge about ancient Egyptian tombs and burials. Though you’ve probably heard a lot about the famous King Tutankhamun, how much do you know about his tomb’s actually discovery back in 1922? In honor of this centennial celebration, here are six fascinating facts about the discovery of King Tut’s tomb.

1. Many Believed King Tut’s Tomb Was Lost

Finding King Tut’s tomb was no easy feat. Around the time of its discovery, many archaeologists believed that the tomb either did not exist or had been destroyed by the sands of time. Many other tombs had already been uncovered in the region, so the discovery of another seemed unlikely. Luckily, the doubts of others didn’t stop Howard Carter’s determination.

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With a bit of persistence and luck, Carter and his team stumbled across the top steps of the tomb in the middle of the Valley of the Kings . The tomb itself was found under nearly 150,000 pounds of rock and debris and took six years to excavate. In the end, they found King Tut’s tomb , sarcophagus, mummy, and over 5,000 objects, many of which were made of gold.

Read more: Ancient Origins