The remains of George Mallory, a famed British climber, were discovered on Mount Everest in May 1999, perhaps one of the most anticipated finds in mountaineering history. Malory had famously vanished during a 1924 expedition, alongside his climbing partner Andrew Irvine, while attempting to reach the summit of the world's tallest peak. Their disappearance fueled ongoing speculation about whether they had achieved the summit, a question that remained unanswered for decades. The search for Mallory was particularly challenging due to the extreme altitude and treacherous terrain of Everest.

The discovery was made by an American climbing team led by Conrad Anker, who spotted Mallory's body in a state of remarkable preservation, thanks to the cold conditions of the mountain. Mallory was found at around 8,155 meters, his remains indicating significant trauma presumed to have resulted from a fall. The discovery garnered global attention, not only reigniting interest in Mallory's legacy but also sparking debates about the ethics of retrieving bodies from Everest.

In the years following Mallory's disappearance, numerous expeditions attempted to ascertain the fate of the climbers and the circumstances surrounding their ill-fated ascent. The data collected from Mallory's body, including his clothing and a few personal items, sparked further investigation into whether he and Irvine reached the summit before their tragic fall. These inquiries made Mallory a symbol of the allure and peril of Himalayan climbing and brought to light the historical significance of early expeditions to Everest.