Archaeologists have recently discovered a pharaoh’s tomb in an Egyptian valley west of Luxor, marking the first royal tomb excavation since Tutankhamun’s burial chamber over a century ago. This newly identified tomb belonged to Thutmose II, who reigned around 1480 B.C. and is considered the last missing royal tomb of the 18th Dynasty. The joint project involving Egyptian and British researchers began in 2022, leading to the discovery of the tomb’s entrance and main corridor. Initially thought to be a royal consort’s tomb due to its proximity to other royal burial sites, evidence within the tomb revealed it was indeed built for a king.
Situated beneath two waterfalls and at the bottom of a slope, the location of Thutmose II’s tomb was atypically moist, given the conditions of the 15th century B.C. The presence of fragments of alabaster jars bearing Thutmose II’s name as the deceased king, along with inscriptions mentioning Hatshepsut, provided definitive evidence that the tomb was indeed royal. The intact ceiling adorned with blue paint and yellow stars, typically found only in king’s tombs, further solidified this conclusion. This significant discovery sheds light on an era of Egyptian history that remains largely understudied—Thutmose II’s reign during the imperialistic and cosmopolitan 18th Dynasty.
Despite claims by Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities that this was the first royal tomb discovery since 1922, some archaeologists have reported finding pharaohs’ tombs in 1940 and 2014. The recent find was described by the secretary general for Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities as one of the most significant in decades. While Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered packed with artifacts, Thutmose II’s tomb had been emptied out, likely due to flooding shortly after his death. The archaeologists believe that the tomb’s contents were relocated to another location, with Thutmose II’s mummified remains later found at Deir el-Bahari.
The flooding that occurred in Thutmose II’s tomb caused severe deterioration, resulting in the loss of many original contents. However, archaeologists were able to restore parts of fallen plaster adorned with intricate designs, including blue inscriptions, yellow star motifs, and elements of the Book of Amduat, an important religious text used in royal tombs. This discovery has sparked new interest and insight into the history of Thutmose II and the 18th Dynasty, offering valuable clues about this fascinating period in Egyptian history. The tomb’s excavation has provided additional context and understanding of an era overshadowed by the reigns of more famous pharaohs and queens.
Professor Peter Der Manuelian emphasized that the discovery of Thutmose II’s tomb, though not as grand as Tutankhamun’s, was of immense significance in unraveling the mysteries of the 18th Dynasty. He pointed to previous instances where seemingly unremarkable tombs turned out to be larger and more extraordinary upon further exploration, providing a wealth of new information. The excavation of Thutmose II’s tomb is expected to contribute significantly to ongoing research and understanding of the imperialistic and cosmopolitan era, offering fresh insights into the political and religious landscape of ancient Egypt. Despite some debate over the novelty of this discovery, the tomb of Thutmose II stands as a crucial find in Egypt’s rich archaeological history, shedding light on a lesser-known period that is ripe for further exploration and interpretation.
