In the first room Carter opened, called the antechamber, many precious items were arranged precariously, likely re-stacked in a hurry by officials restoring the tomb after the final robbery. The grandeur of the contents were nonetheless far beyond Carter’s expectations. Upon his first glance into the room, he declared it “wonderful.” Once the mist cleared, he could see by flashlight the many “strange animals, statues, and gold—everywhere the glint of gold.” (Discover King Tut’s 5,000 treasures, by the numbers.)

Carter extended techniques he had learned in previous work and set a new bar for meticulousness and comprehensiveness. Electric lighting, at the time an innovative tool, was installed in the tomb before Harry Burton, the world’s most accomplished archaeological photographer, recorded every scene. Numbered cards were placed by individual artifacts in photos before any object was moved, and Carter took detailed notes and sketches before packing up the inventoried treasures.

Nearly intact, the tomb provided unmatched insight into this moment in Egyptian history. Chariots, weapons, clothing, and artwork reflected methods of warfare and who Egypt saw as its enemies. Murals illustrated religious beliefs, including a restored reverence for Amun, which Tut’s predecessor had diminished. The undisturbed coffins helped archaeologists better understand the elaborate burial practices. (King Tut’s mummy hid many treasures. This graphic unwraps them.)

“Tutmania” spread across the world.

Thanks to Burton’s detailed photos of the artifacts and a press more global in nature than ever before, news of the unparalleled find reached a worldwide audience. Even the King and Queen of England were hungry for updates. Egyptian and Tutankhamun motifs appeared in popular music and fashion, architecture and décor, and even in brands of fruit.Egypt retained control of Tut’s antiquities.

Unlike many discoveries found in Egypt, Tut’s treasures didn’t leave the country. Lord Carnarvon had expected to claim a large share of the antiquities, as was customary for most excavations. In part because of Carter’s irascible personality but largely because Egypt was asserting its independence from England at the time of the discovery, the government instead insisted that they all remain in Egypt.

 Tut is still inspiring a new generation of archaeologists.

At the time of the discovery, Tut quickly became a symbol of Egyptian identity. Now the more than 5,000 treasures from Tut’s tomb will be the centerpiece of a new Grand Egyptian Museum, and more and more Egyptians are directing archaeological work being done in the country. (Go inside Egypt’s new billion-dollar museum, deemed fit for a pharaoh.)

Tut was an influential pharaoh, restoring the importance of gods that his predecessor had dismissed, but he had a very short rule and did not feature prominently in the historical record. He’s globally famous 3,000 years after his death because his tomb was so marvelous and so complete.