TAA i.2.3.11

{11^th October, continued}

closing last year, will have had upon the various insectivore
that had infected the tomb and lab. When open during the past
seasons.

12^th

Between 7 and 8am this morning we opened the Tomb. First by
removing the water tight timber blocking before the entrance
doorway & composed of heavy Turkish oak beams with soft
deal boards between them and which screened the wooden door
of the passage; unlocked the wooden door of the passage;
at the further end of the descending passage we removed the sheets
screening the steel-gate of Ante-room, opened the steel-gate
(closed by numerous locks) and entered the Ante-room and Burial
Chamber, and <where we> found everything {in} perfect order, with hardly
a trace of dust settled since we closed it last spring, save
on the black pall (modern) black pall covering the Sarcophagus were
a few small pieces of plaster that had disintegrated & fallen
from the ceiling. Though there wer

Though there were a few traces of those fish-like insects that eat
materials like paper, the insecticides seem to have had good effect -
and the tomb practically free of these pests.

The 2000 candle power <electric> lamps <over the Sarcophagus> were turned on, the modern pall
removed, exposing, under the glass the great gold incised coffin
within the Sarcophagus - a sight which seems each time witnessed
even more emotional. Tewfik Effendi, Shaban Effendi, Lucas and the Reises
<were present.>

Finding everything in perfect order I reclosed the gates & went to the
Lab opened the laboratory which had been protected by a heavy
wooden screen exactly fitting the <rock cut> opening. We This wooden screen removed
we en/<u>nlocked the steel gates and entered. Here everything was <also> free
from dust & insects and in good order.

The rest of the morning spent in getting various things ready
to begin work tomorrow (13^th.).

Thus the Valley, screaming with workmen these last two days, is again <has,>
until the winter migrants come, its normal sepulchral once again.