Just days after the momentous discovery of Thutmose II's tomb, archaeologists suggest a second burial site could contain the pharaoh’s mummified remains, located in a cleverly disguised chamber in the Theban Necropolis.
Discovery of Possible Second Tomb of King Thutmose II Unveils Ancient Egyptian Mysteries
Discovery of Possible Second Tomb of King Thutmose II Unveils Ancient Egyptian Mysteries
British archaeologists claim to have uncovered what may be the second tomb of King Thutmose II near Luxor, potentially holding artifacts from the Egyptian pharaoh.
A British archaeologist believes his team has potentially discovered a second tomb belonging to King Thutmose II, just days after another significant excavation revealed the first burial site in over a century since Tutankhamun’s tomb was unearthed. Piers Litherland expressed confidence that this second tomb may contain the mummified remains of the pharaoh.
According to researchers, the initial tomb appears to have been emptied shortly post-burial, likely due to flooding, prompting the relocation of the burial goods to another location. Litherland indicates that this new site is situated below a substantial 23-meter (75 ft) structure made of limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster, purposely crafted by ancient Egyptians to blend into the mountainous terrain of the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor.
The first tomb was found behind a waterfall, and its flooding may have spurred the transfer of its contents, potentially orchestrated by Thutmose II's wife and half-sister Hatshepsut. After evaluations deemed tunneling into the area unsafe, the British-Egyptian team is currently excavating by hand and anticipates that the excavation will be complete in about a month.
Upon discovering the first burial chamber, decorated in a style emblematic of royalty, the archaeologists were shocked. The burial chamber boasted an intact blue-painted ceiling adorned with yellow stars—a feature exclusively seen in kings’ tombs. Litherland conveyed his emotions over this discovery during a recent interview, noting the profound impact of encountering something unexpected within the depths of history.
Thutmose II is historic not only for being married to Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s prominent rulers, but also for being an ancestor of the famed Tutankhamun, whose reign lasted roughly from 1493 to 1479 BC. The original tomb of Tutankhamun was uncovered by British archaeologists in 1922, and this latest discovery sheds light on further aspects of Egypt’s illustrious past.
