KING TUT'S CHARIOT TO PRESENTED AT NEW YORK EXHIBITION

A HUMBLE CHARIOT THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN KING TUT'S DEATH IS CURRENTLY TRAVELING TO THE HIGHLY-PUBLICIZED EXHIBITION DISPLAYING THE BOY PHARAOH'S FINERY AT THE DISCOVERY TIMES SQUARE EXPOSITION, NEW YORK, THE FIRST TIME THAT THE MYSTERIOUS 3,300 YEAR OLD ARTIFACT HAS LEFT EGYPT. THREADBARE AND WORN IN APPEARANCE, THE CHARIOT WAS DISCOVERED BY ARCHEOLOGIST HOWARD CARTER AFTER HIS FIRST REOPENED TUT'S TOMB IN 1922, AND IT WAS IMMEDIATELY NOTABLE FOR ITS SLIGHTNESS AND LACK OF REFINEMENT AMID THE ANTECHAMBER'S MORE DELUXE OBJECTS, WHICH INCLUDED THREE OTHER CHARIOTS. ZAHI HAWASS, SECRETARY GENERAL OF EGYPT'S SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES, PREVIOUSLY TOLD ONLINE ART-SOURCE MAGAZINE ARTINFO THAT HE BELIEVES THE CHARIOT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT BEFELL THE BOY KING MERE HOURS BEFORE HE DIED, AND MAY HAVE LED TO HIS PREMATURE DEATH AT THE AGE OF 18. 'I THOUGHT THAT TO BRING THE CHARIOT WOULD BE GOOD EVIDENCE TO SHOW PEOPLE', HE SAID. HAWASS BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S MODEST CONSTRUCTION SUGGESTS IT WAS USED FOR EXERCISE, OR POSSIBLY HUNTING. THE TUT SHOW, WHICH OPENED IN TIMES SQUARE THIS APRIL AND RUNS THROUGH 2.JANUARY.2011, IS THE FOLLOW-UP TO THE 1979 EXHIBITION OF THE PHARAOH'S RAIMENT AT THE MET THAT USHERED IN THE AGE OF THE MUSEUM BLOCKBUSTER.