The stone turned out to be the top step in a flight of stairs, which subsequently led Carter and Carnarvon, who had flown out to Egypt after hearing of the discovery, to a doorway that had been plastered with mud and stamped with hieroglyphics. Incredibly, Carter and his team had become the first people in over 3,000 years to face the door of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

According to protocol, the tomb should have been opened by a member of the Egyptian Department of Antiquities. However, reports suggest that Carter, Carnarvon, and a couple of others couldn't resist taking a peek inside before the officials arrived – and now, new evidence suggests they even looted treasure from the tomb.

British Egyptologist Sir Alan Gardiner was given an amulet by Carter as thanks for translating some hieroglyphics and accepted it on the understanding that it hadn't been stolen from the treasure trove. However, a newly discovered letter shows Gardiner discovered this wasn't the case. After showing the amulet to an expert and learning that it matched examples belonging to Tutankhamun, the Egyptologist wrote to Carter, accusing him of "undoubtedly [stealing]" the artefact and saying he "deeply [regretted] having been placed in so awkward a position".

Carter and his assistant Arthur Callender are pictured by the entrance to the tomb.

Tutankhamun's 'curse' and the treasure hunters who died