The first royal tomb found in the Valley of the Kings since 1922
In short: For over a century, the Valley of the Kings held its secrets behind desert cliffs. Until recently, no royal tomb had been opened there since the famous discovery of Tutankhamun. Now, a new find is offering a rare glimpse into the 15th century B.C. and the lives of the 18th Dynasty.
The discovery of Pharaoh Thutmose II's tomb marks a significant milestone in Egyptology. While other royal tombs were found in the 20th century—such as those in Tanis in 1939 and 1940, or the Abydos Dynasty tombs in 2014—this is the first royal crypt found in the famous Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamun's tomb was opened in 1922. This discovery provides a rare opportunity to utilize modern, powerful tools for analysis. It represents a shift from the 19th-century era of Egyptology. The find could fundamentally alter current historical views of the ancient kingdom.
The site is located in a vast 'necropolis,' or city of the dead, situated near the ancient city of Thebes. This area served as a major center of worship for the god Amun. During an October 2022 expedition into a separate cliffside tomb, researchers initially found the opening. Adjacent to the Nile, the burial ground was situated. It served as a primary burial ground for many powerful families. The desert cliffs provided the natural stone for these massive structures.
Initially, the team suspected the site belonged to a queen or a lesser royal. However, University of Cambridge archaeologist Piers Litherland identified two specific features that confirmed its royal status: walls decorated with hieroglyphic tracts from the 'Amduat'—a kingly funereal text—and a blue plaster ceiling painted with yellow stars to represent the night sky. The ceiling mural is described as a faded celestial depiction. These specific decorations are hallmark features of royal crypts. The find was announced by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The identity of the occupant was finally confirmed through inscriptions on fragments of 'duck vessels.' These were small jars shaped like ducks used to hold perfumes and cosmetics. Thutmose II reigned from approximately 1493 B.C. to 1479 B.C., placing him in the 18th Dynasty, more than 100 years before the era of Tutankhamun. The duck vessels were crafted from both stone and pottery. They were used to store various ointments and perfumes. This pharaoh lived during a critical period of Egyptian history.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: King Thutmose II's Lost Tomb Discovered | Secrets in the Sand | Science Channel
- Also: The last missing tomb from this wealthy Egyptian dynasty has been found
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