Biltmore and King Tut: Dig Into A Remarkable Connection

When you visit Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures at Biltmore Estate, you might wonder what Biltmore has to do with Egypt. At first glance, ancient Egypt and Gilded Age America may seem worlds apart—but dig a little deeper into our history, and surprising connections to discovering the tomb of King Tut start to emerge.

This story began with a discovery in Biltmore’s archives: a carefully curated album of photographs taken by John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954), husband of Cornelia Vanderbilt and longtime steward of Biltmore House. These photographs, captured during Cecil’s diplomatic service in Cairo from 1914 to 1919, offer a personal window into a pivotal place and time where history was being made.

They reveal details of a career spent among ancient wonders, a family friendship with one of archaeology’s most iconic figures, and even a brush with one of the greatest archaeological stories of the 20^th century—the discovery of King Tut’s tomb.  

Family connections

John Cecil in the gardens of the British Embassy in Cairo, ca. 1917.

John Cecil’s link to ancient Egypt began long before his time in Cairo. His mother, Lady Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, grew up at Didlington Hall in Swaffham, England. Didlington Hall was known for its remarkable collection of Egyptian antiquities assembled by her father, William Tyssen-Amherst. Didlington’s ancient objects did not just leave a lasting impression on “May”, as her family called her, but also on a young boy named Howard Carter, who visited often when his father worked on the estate. Carter’s fascination with Egypt coupled with his artistic talent caught the Amherst family’s attention, and they eventually funded his first position in Egypt when Carter was just 17.

May’s interest in Egypt wasn’t limited to collecting artifacts, though; she actively coordinated their discovery. Between 1901 and 1904, she led two seasons of excavations near Aswan in Egypt, working under Howard Carter’s supervision during his time as Inspector of Monuments for Upper Egypt. These were not casual visits but serious archaeological endeavors, and they left a strong impression on her four sons.

John Cecil, the third of those sons, inherited his mother’s curiosity and enterprising spirit. While his brothers all pursued military careers, John studied at Eton and Oxford before entering the diplomatic service. His first foreign post came in 1914, when he was appointed Undersecretary at the British Embassy in Cairo. By the time he left Egypt in 1919, he had risen to the role of Second Secretary, gaining both rank and experience during a critical moment in world history and in the unfolding story of Egyptian archaeology.

Life along the Nile

John Cecil, left, readies for a day of exploring with unidentified friends, colleagues, and guides, ca. 1917.

Despite the demands of his position, John Cecil found time to explore the rich cultural landscape of Egypt. His photo album tells the story of a young man fully engaged with the interesting new world around him. Its pages document parades, golf outings, and Nile cruises with colleagues and friends, along with time spent enjoying the Embassy’s gardens and interacting with locals. But perhaps the most compelling are the images he captures of Egypt’s ancient monuments.

His lens captured moments of stillness, silliness, and awe from the Temple of Luxor, the Ramesseum, Karnak, and many other sites. Some of these visits appear to have been led by local guides. Others, however, suggest a front row seat to history in the making.

An interior view of the mortuary temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu, late 1917.

At several archaeological sites in the Valley of the Kings, John Cecil appears to have been guided by none other than Howard Carter himself. Excavations in the Valley of the Kings halted in 1915 due to World War I, but, in 1917, Carter resumed searching for a “missing” pharaoh, working in partnership with George Herbert, Fifth Earl of Carnarvon. It was here, in this legendary setting, that Cecil witnessed history in the making.

The mystery of Site A

Qurna laborers excavate at Site A in the Valley of the Kings, late 1917.

At first glance, this photo seems like a typical early 20^th century excavation scene. But Cecil labeled the back, simply, “Carnarvon digging.” A closer look reveals the landscape matches photographs taken at the same location by Carter’s official photographer, Harry Burton. With that comparison, Biltmore’s curators made an incredible discovery: this photograph captures early excavations of what Howard Carter called “Site A.”

Site A marked Carter’s renewed efforts to locate a lost pharaonic tomb. Fueled by fragmentary but tantalizing evidence at other Thebes sites, Carter felt that Site A was the most likely site of the lost tomb. And he was amazingly close: nestled between the tombs of Ramses II, Ramses II, and Merenptah, Site A lies less than a hundred feet away from what would later be revealed as the tomb of Tutankhamun, better known to the modern world as King Tut.

Carter began excavating Site A in December of 1917 and continued into February of 1918, dating these photos to a narrower span of time than previously realized. Cecil visited the site in the early days, before tracks were laid for a rail system to remove debris. Instead, laborers from nearby Qurna moved debris by hand in baskets balanced on their heads. This photo lets us see the effort, scale, and intensity of the dig, while also giving a sense of the quiet anticipation and excitement that led Cecil to snap a photograph.

Though Site A didn’t yield a major discovery, it revealed artifacts that hinted at a story hidden below the surface. When excavation resumed the next season, Carter dug test trenches just across the central path of the Valley. Although it took a few more seasons of work, what Howard Carter found there took the world by storm: the lost tomb of King Tut.  

The road to Tutankhamun

Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings, 1917.

Four years later, Howard Carter broke through a sealed doorway and entered the tomb of Tutankhamun. This moment captured the world’s imagination and redefined modern archaeology. It continues to captivate people around the globe, even a century later. But behind that moment stood decades of preparation, patronage, and persistence, including the early support of the Amherst and Cecil families.

The Amherst family’s belief in Carter gave him the opportunity to begin his work in Egypt. Lady William Cecil’s own excavations helped establish key professional networks. And her son, John Cecil, bore witness to Howard Carter’s efforts when that work began paying off, capturing in photographic form the work that would one day lead to the greatest archeological discovery of the century.

While neither Lady Cecil nor John Cecil were directly involved in uncovering King Tut’s tomb, their role in the story is undeniable—and largely unknown until now.

Step into history at Biltmore

All ages enjoy exploring our “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures” exhibition.

Now through January 4, 2026, experience Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures at Amherst at Deerpark® on the grounds of the estate. This immersive exhibition features breathtaking recreations of every artifact Carter found in the tomb of King Tut, arranged as they were originally discovered.

This exhibit also shines a spotlight on Biltmore’s own unexpected connection to ancient Egypt. From Lady William Cecil’s original watercolors to enlarged prints of photographs of John Cecil’s firsthand travels, you’ll discover how personal history and world heritage intersect in unforgettable ways.

Don’t miss your chance to walk in the footsteps of explorers, diplomats, and royalty, right here at Biltmore—dig into history and discover Biltmore’s fascinating historic connection to King Tut.

Learn more about King Tut and the exhibition with this helpful guide, and for a limited time, purchase tickets that feature reduced pricing for youth (ages 10–16) and FREE admission for kids 9 and younger, plus access to explore the estate gardens and grounds the next day!

Featured image: John Cecil (second rider from right) with a group of unidentified embassy employees and guides on an
archeological tour at the Rammesseum, ca. 1919.