KING Tutankhamun's sarcophagus has been pictured outside his tomb for the first time since its discovery 100 years ago.

The Egyptian boy king's gold-plated coffin – believed by some to be cursed – is being urgently restored along with thousands of other artefacts for a new museum exhibit.

The enormous coffin is being restored for the first time ever Credit: Reuters

The restoration is taking place at a lab in Egypt Credit: Alamy Live News

Tutankhamun was buried inside several coffins contained within a giant sarcophagus Credit: EPA

Tutankhamun's mummy is also being restored at the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, Egypt Credit: Reuters

Archaeologists are racing to repair the damaged sarcophagus, which is now weak and cracking apart.

"Preliminary examination carried out on the outer coffin inside the tomb revealed that it was suffered from general weakness," said Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities in a statement.

"It had also developed cracks in its gilded layers of plaster, especially those of the lid and base.

"An immediate intervention to restore the coffin inside a suitable environment is now required."

Egyptian archeologists work on funerary beds belonging to King Tutankhamun Credit: EPA

The 'boy king' Tutankhamun died aged just 19, after ruling for nine years Credit: Reuters

Restoring ancient artefacts is slow and painstaking work Credit: EPA

Experts are racing to fix the artefacts damaged by time Credit: Reuters

It's the first time that the coffin has ever been worked on by archaeologists since discovery.

British archaeologist Haward Carter discovered the tomb of the 18th dynasty king in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in 1922. The tomb was untouched and included about 5,000 artefacts.

Many believe Tut's remains are cursed as the opening of his tomb was followed by a string of deaths of people involved with the discovery.

Archaeologists, and even their family members, died from horrible illnesses or in strange accidents – and some say the deaths weren't a coincidence.

Tut's sarcophagus and the treasured collection of his tomb are expected to be the centrepiece of the new Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) that Egypt will open next year near the Pyramids of Giza.

The sarcophagus of boy pharaoh King Tutankhamun on display in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in January Credit: Reuters

Archaeologist Howard Carter removing oils from the coffin of Tutankhamun in the 1920s

The tomb was secretively transported in this wooden crate last week Credit: Egyptian Ministry Of Antiquities

Tut was aged 10 when he took the throne, and died at 19 under mysterious circumstances Credit: EPA

Who was King Tutankhamun? Here's everything you need to know... King Tutankhamun is the most famous of Egypt's ancient pharaohs

He ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago from 1332 to 1323 BC

Tut is known as the "boy king" as he was just 10 years old when he took the thrown

When he became the king he married his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten. They had two daughters together but both were stillborn.

Tut died aged just 19 under mysterious circumstances

Some believe that King Tut was assassinated but most believe that his death was an accident

The pharaoh is also famous for the suposed curse that haunts his tomb

After the tomb's discovery in 1922, archaeologists, and even their family members, died from horrible illnesses or in strange accidents – and some say the deaths weren't a coincidence

The journey of King Tut's sarcophagus

Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities said the coffin was transported from Tut's tomb in southern Egypt to the GEM last month "in order to be restored for the first time since the tomb’s discovery".

"The coffin has suffered a lot of damage, including cracks in the golden layers of plaster and a general weakness in all golden layers,” said GEM expert Eissa Zidan.

Restoration work on the coffin, which is made of wood and covered with gold, will take about eight months, he added.

It was the only sarcophagus left in Tut's tomb after the two other coffins of Tutankhamun were moved to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo's Tahrir square in 1922.

King Tut is famed for the iconic 'death mask' placed over his head after death Credit: Reuters

Digital reconstruction of the pharaoh Credit: AFP

Egypt has previously announced that the GEM, which has been under construction for about 15 years and is partially funded by Japan, will officially open by the end of 2020.

Tutankhamun, a pharaoh of the 18th Egyptian dynasty, ruled Egypt from 1332 to 1323 B.C.

He is most famous for his age – experts believe the boy was 10 when he took the reigns of the world's most powerful empire.

His death aged just 19 has puzzled experts for decades. Some believe he died of a broken leg or other accident, while others suspect he was assassinated.

King Tut's burial chamber was recently restored Credit: Reuters

Curse of the Pharaohs – who died after King Tutankhamun's tomb was opened? Tutankhamun's tomb was opened on November 29, 1922. These are the deaths that followed... Lord Carnarvon (died April 5, 1923) – a financial backer of the excavation, he died from an infected mosquito bite

George Jay Gould I (died May 16, 1923) – a tomb visitor who died from a fever following his visit

Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey (died July 10, 1923) – an Egyptian prince who was shot and killed by his wife

Colonel The Hon. Aubrey Herbert, MP (died September 26, 1923) – the half-brother of Lord Cardnarvon, he died from blood poisoning related to dental work

Sir Archibald Douglas-Reid (died January 15, 1924) – the radiologist who X-Ray Tut's tomb died from a mysterious illness

Sir Lee Stack (died November 19, 1924) – the Governer-General of Sudan was assassinated driving through Egypt's capital, Cairo

A. C. Mace (died April 6, 1928) – a member of Howard Carter's excavation team, he died from arsenic poisoning

The Hon. Mervyn Herbert (died May 26, 1929) – another half-brother of Lord Carnarvon, he died from malarial pneumonia

Captain The Hon. Richard Bethell (died November 15, 1929) – Howard Carter's personal secretary, he died from a suspected smothering in a Mayfair club

Richard Luttrell Pilkington Bethell (died February 20, 1930) – father of Richard Bethell, he supposedly threw himself off his seventh floor apartment

Howard Carter (died March 2, 1939) – Carter opened Tut's tomb, and died aged 64 from Hodgkin's disease. His older brother William died the same year

This computer illustration shows the layout of King Tut's tomb. Suspected hidden chambers that may contain other members of his family are shown as faded boxes Credit: Getty Images

The news follows the dramatic opening last year of a mysterious 2,000-year-old sarcophagus hidden inside a buried tomb in Egypt.

The coffin's discovery at the beginning of July caused a stir in the archaeology community after worried onlookers warned over an ancient curse.

Despite concerns over an evil jinx, archaeologists broke open the sinister stone coffin and live-streamed the operation for the world to see.

While they didn't find any banshees or demons inside, they did discover three decomposed mummies submerged in rancid sewer water.

Inside King Tutankhamun’s lavishly decorated tomb

In other archaeology news, a 4,000-year-old tomb unearthed on a Welsh Island may contain remains of ‘ancient sorcerers’.

Ancient Chinese people gave their babies coneheads by ‘moulding their skulls’ to show off how rich they were.

And, from headless vikings to ‘screaming’ mummies, here are some of the most gruesome ancient corpses ever found.

Do you believe King Tut's tomb is cursed? Let us know in the comments...

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