Tutankhamun’s Yorkshire links are exposed in a new exhibition at Experience Barnsley

Barnsley-born Jones, an artist turned archaeologist, discovered some of the first clues to the grave’s location and she believes he would have found it first had he not died tragically young of tuberculosis in the Valley of the Kings a few years ago.

His tips led his friends Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter to build on his legacy and discover the grave on November 4, 1922.

FREE TUT22 MANUAL: Find out more about this amazing Tut22 exhibition and workshops with Professor Fletcher, including booking links, in the official free guide now available online – CLICK HERE

The free-entry exhibition also highlights links with the Spencer-Stanhope family of Barnsley’s Cannon Hall, including their friendship with Lord Amherst, the man who funded Howard Carter’s excavations at Amarna, the birthplace of Tutankhamun.

Spencer-Stanhopes have hired William and Thomas Midgley, the first curators of Bolton Museum’s famous Egyptian collection, which has almost 300 items on loan for the Tut22 free exhibition in Barnsley.

The three-year exhibition is set to combine traditional artefacts and replicas from Tutankhamun’s birthplace at Amarna and related sites in Egypt with fascinating new technology to highlight the greatest archaeological discovery of all time.

Visitors can even take selfies with Tut’s iconic gold death mask and other tomb treasures, rendered in the exhibition space as 3D holograms using the free augmented reality app – a ground-breaking new work by Barnsley-based Front Row Live.

The 3,400-year-old jewelery mold, which features the life-size ankh and features in Tutankhamun’s name, has also been scanned to create 100 good luck charms, which will be available in the gift shop with a share of the profits going to Barnsley and Bolton Museum.

Tutankhamun’s royal family tree is represented by busts of his family – including a life-size replica of Nefertiti’s famous head.

There are items related to Tutankhamun’s birth, the palace he grew up in, the types of food and drink he ate, the types of clothing and jewelry he wore, his hairstyles, cosmetics and perfumes, and items representing his childhood and education , and the figures and images of the gods he worshipped.

For more information about the exhibition, including Experience Barnsley opening times, workshops and more, visit www.experience-barnsley.com.

Professor Fletcher said: “This collaboration between Bolton Museums and Barnsley Museums is unique.

“There are incredible references to Barnsley and stories that have never been told. It is both a local and an international story and will really help us celebrate the centenary in a special way.

“I could never have done any of this without the help of some amazing people, including Ian Trumble at Bolton Museum, Lynne Dunning at Barnsley Museums, Alison Cooper and Davinia Skirow, the Society for the Study of Egypt, the amazing wizardry of Graham Walker and Front Row. Josh and Harry Walker, Egyptologist and filmmaker Mark Chico, who flew in from Barcelona just for the event, and last but not least my partner Dr Stephen Buckley.’

Of the role played by Barnsley’s Harold Jones, she said: “In many ways he was way ahead of Howard Carter. It was Jones who first understood the significance of the then little-known name Tutankhamun and was the first talent spotted by Lord and Lady Carnarvon, staying with them in their family seat is Highclere Castle – aka Downton Abbey.

“I firmly believe that our boy Harold Jones would have found Tutankhamun’s tomb if he had not died tragically young. His funeral was arranged by friends Carter and Carnarvon, who followed the clues found by Jones to finally open the grave in 1922.’

MAKE A SACRIFICE: Tut22 entry to the exhibition is free, but you can donate to Barnsley Museum and Heritage Trust, which supports the town’s five museums including Experience Barnsley, Cooper Gallery, Cannon Hall Museum, Elsecar Heritage Center and Worsbrough Mill – find out more and make a donation in www.bmht.org.