Pharaoh would have started planning and building his tomb as soon as he became king. The location of the tomb was usually decided in his first year of rule. Architectural designs were drawn up and decorations were planned. Specialist craftsmen included stonemasons, plasterers, sculptors, draughtsmen and artists. The tomb of Sety I was the first to be completely decorated. Before him, the tombs cut into the rock of the Valley of the Kings had decoration only in selected places. In Sety’s tomb, every surface was covered with scenes from books of prayers or spells to help navigate the underworld. Stonemasons used hammers and chisels to carve the rock walls. Grinders were used to crush mineral pigments for paint.

H10, Ha6115 mallets H1745, H1057, H1673 chisels H955 grinder