Family Links Decades of Misfortune to Tutankhamen's Curse After Ancestor's Tomb Discovery
A young woman from Buckinghamshire has revealed that her family believes they are "constantly swerving death" due to a potential curse linked to their ancestor's role in discovering Tutankhamen's tomb. Micah Sheldrake, 23, is the great-great-granddaughter of Ernest Harold Jones, a British artist and excavator who identified early clues to the location of the ancient pharaoh's burial site in Egypt.
A String of Bizarre and Dangerous Incidents
Micah's family has experienced a series of alarming events that have led them to joke about being victims of the infamous curse. Her aunt was robbed at gunpoint, and multiple family members on the side related to Ernest Harold Jones have battled cancer. In a particularly chilling incident, her father had an altercation with a man who was later arrested and identified as serial killer Levi Bellfield.
Micah herself faced a harrowing situation when her car sank into a bog while hitchhiking with her boyfriend. They feared for their lives after realizing the driver was taking them to a non-existent farm, forcing them to escape. "I no longer get shocked when something bad happens," Micah admitted, highlighting the frequency of these close calls.
The Historical Context of the Curse
Tutankhamun, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who ascended to power around age eight or nine and died unexpectedly at 18, was buried in a tomb discovered intact in 1922 by Howard Carter. Ernest Harold Jones played a crucial role by providing early clues to its whereabouts in The Valley of The Kings. However, Jones died of tuberculosis in Egypt in 1911 while searching for the tomb, potentially making him the curse's first victim.
After the tomb's excavation, financier George Herbert died four months later from a mosquito bite, and George Jay Gould I succumbed to a fever contracted during a visit, fueling rumors of a curse on those who disturbed the pharaoh's resting place.
Family Heritage and Public Reaction
Micah first learned about her great-great-grandfather's contributions as a child, when her grandfather showed her Jones's sketchbook containing writings and drawings from his excavations. She brought the book to school for show-and-tell, impressing her classmates with this unique family history.
Despite pride in her ancestor's work, Micah's family often humorously blames him for their misfortunes, suggesting the curse might be real. She shared her story on TikTok, where it went viral with 2.9 million views. While many found it fascinating, others criticized Jones as a "grave robber," leading to negative messages that Micah did not anticipate but has not let diminish her appreciation for her heritage.
The family's experiences continue to spark debate about the legitimacy of ancient curses, blending historical intrigue with modern-day survival stories in a tale that captivates both skeptics and believers alike.
