Sketches in History | A Message in the Dust

As promised, the 15-Minute History Podcast team is bringing you a new segment, just for kids, called Sketches in History, where history isn’t just a story—it’s an adventure.

Be sure to look for the discussion questions at the end of this post.

Hello, and welcome back to Sketches in History! I’m Lottie Archer, your guide. Every week, we sit in my grandfather’s study and open my extraordinary notebook to a page that shows a sketch from history. The notebook teaches us what’s happening in that sketch by magically pulling us into that moment, to experience it first-hand.

Last time, we watched the exciting moment where the Wright Brothers took their flying machine to the skies, paving way for modern aviation. But now, we’re trading the airplane for something much older... and much dustier.

I recently received a message from one of you, asking if we could learn about one of the most ancient civilizations in world history. Thank you, Eric, for sending in your request!

To get our journey started, I found an ancient coin hanging on the wall in our study. My grandfather found it when he was on an expedition in the deserts of Egypt. Let’s hope the notebook will take us to a scene from that time.

But first, let’s learn our word of the day: perseverance.

Have you ever worked hard at something, even when it took a long time or seemed impossible? That’s perseverance. It means sticking with something, even when it’s challenging. Whether it’s finishing a puzzle, learning to ride a bike, or searching for something buried deep in the sand, perseverance is about not giving up. I wonder if we’ll see someone showing perseverance today.

Let’s open our notebook and see where it’s taking us next.

Awesome! This is just what we wanted. This sketch shows a dry desert landscape. There’s a golden sun blazing overhead, a cluster of tents in the distance, and people carefully brushing sand off stone. One man is holding up a lantern and peering into a dark opening in the ground…

Are you ready? Close your eyes, hold on tight—and let’s go!

We made it! Wow, it is hot. We’re standing in a valley surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs and ancient stone walls. The air smells dry, like sand and sunbaked stones. And look at that—tools, crates, and ropes are everywhere. We’re in an archaeological dig site!

I can see a man in a wide-brimmed hat kneeling near a hole in the ground. He’s holding a chisel and speaking quietly to a younger man beside him.

A nearby sign says Valley of the Kings, Egypt.

I’m guessing based on the sign, the activity here, and where we are means that its 1922 and we’re standing in one of the most important discoveries in history: the moment Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

Let’s quietly move a bit closer so we can hear what’s happening.

Howard Carter had been searching for this tomb for years—five years, to be exact—with almost no luck. Every year, he and his team dug carefully through the valley, hoping to find something no one else had. Can you imagine digging through endless sand for years and never finding what you are looking for? Many people told Howard that the tomb was a myth and that he would never find it, but he never gave up.

And today, something is finally different. One of the workers has uncovered a step carved into the ground—then more steps beneath it. Carter is carefully clearing away the entrance. He’s calling over a man in a formal coat—that’s Lord Carnarvon, the man funding the expedition. Carter is telling him that he believes they’ve found something extraordinary, but Lord Carnarvon doesn’t seem to believe him. I can see that they’re lowering a candle into a narrow hole in a sealed doorway.

He’s peeking inside. I can see his eyes widen. Lord Carnarvon asks him, “Can you see anything?”

And Carter whispers… “Yes—wonderful things.”

He describes gold, statues, strange animals, chariots, and walls covered in bright paintings. It’s the untouched tomb of a pharaoh—King Tutankhamun, a boy king who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. This is one of the most complete tombs ever found. Most had been looted long ago, but not this one. It sat undisturbed for centuries.

As Carter and his team work to clear the tomb, they’re doing everything slowly and carefully. Each object is sketched, labeled, and protected. It will take them ten years to fully explore and document everything in this one tomb!

That’s perseverance.

They could have given up—many did—but Carter believed King Tut was still waiting to be found. And he was right.

Okay, I think it’s time to leave before we’re spotted among the crates of ancient treasures.

Phew! We’re back in the study—sand-free and amazed. Let’s see what the notebook says about what we just saw.

We just experienced the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun, or King Tut, in 1922. Howard Carter and his team had been searching for years in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Many experts believed all the tombs had already been found—but Carter didn’t give up.

When they finally uncovered King Tut’s tomb, it was filled with golden treasures, statues, furniture, weapons, and even the boy king’s famous golden mask. Most tombs had been looted in ancient times, but this one had been hidden for thousands of years.

The discovery changed what we knew about ancient Egypt. King Tut became famous around the world, not for his rule, which was short and quiet, but because his tomb was so well preserved.

Remember our word of the day? That’s right—perseverance. Howard Carter never stopped searching, even when others told him it was hopeless. His determination led to one of the greatest discoveries in the history of archaeology.

What an incredible journey! We saw ancient wonders, followed the work of curious and careful explorers, and watched how patience and perseverance can uncover something magical.

Thanks for joining me in Sketches in History. Don’t forget to subscribe to the 15-Minute History Podcast so you’ll never miss an adventure. And if there’s a moment in history you’d love to explore with me, send your ideas to 15minutehistory@gmail.com.

Until next time, keep wondering, keep imagining, and remember—the past is just a page away.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Howard Carter kept searching even when others had given up?

2. What do you think Carter felt when he first looked into the tomb?

3. What does the word perseverance mean to you? Can you think of a time when you showed perseverance?

4. Why is it important to take care of historical discoveries like King Tut’s tomb?

View of the southwest corner of the tomb's antechamber containing disassembled chariots and furniture on the right. Image is public domain via Wikimedia Commons