Since the archaeologist Howard Carter found the grave of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922, no royal grave has been discovered in Egypt – until now. Archaeologists have found the burial chamber of King Thutmosis II in a side valley of the valley of the kings. The burial chamber is empty because the content was still changed in antiquity due to flooding. But artifacts with the royal name show that it was the tomb of Thutmosis II. This is an important find, according to the Egyptian Archaeology Minister.
The valley of the kings near Luxor was one of the largest necropolises in ancient Egypt. Above all, the death temples and graves of the pharaohs from the new empire from 1550 to 1069 BC and the pharaons from the 18th to 20th dynasty at this time can be found in this area. Among them are the graves of Tutankhamun, Akhenaten, Ramses I. and II., By Amenophis II and from Thutmosis I. and III. So far, however, it was unknown, where the grave of Pharaoh Thutmosis II was, the son of Thutmosis I. He ruled from 1492 BC. Together with his half -sister and wife Hatshepsut as a pharaoh, but died at a young age and was in 1479 BC. buried by her. His mummy was still changed in antiquity and brought together with others to a hiding place, a so -called cachette. She was discovered there about 200 years ago.
Grave find in a side valley
However, where the original grave of the Pharaoh Thutmosis II was unknown. Now the Egyptian archaeology authority announces that this grave has now been found. It is around 2.4 kilometers west of the kings in a side valley. A British-Egyptian excavation team, under the direction of Piers Litherland, discovered the entrance to the grave, which was buried by rubble in 2022. But as Mohamed Ismail Khaled explained by the Egyptian ancient authority, this grave was initially considered one of the royal wives of the Thutmosid kings. Because in this side valley some women’s graves have already been discovered, including a burial chamber originally prepared for Hatshepsut.
In the entrance to the grave, the archaeologists found a large staircase and a very wide, leading corridor, which, however, were filled with ruins of the crashed ceiling and flooded rubble. After the team had access to the burial chamber, it discovered cleaning remains of the wall and ceiling painting. “Parts of the ceiling were still intact: it was painted blue with yellow stars on it,” Litherland told the BBC. Such ceiling painting can only be found in graves of pharaohs. Inscriptions from the book “AMDUAT” could also be seen on the cleaning fragments, which are also typical of Egyptian royal graves.
Finds indicate Thutmosis II.
Which Pharaoh this grave belonged was only shown when the archaeologists found fragments of alabaster vessels on which the cartridge was engraved with the king’s name of the Pharaoh Thutmosis II and the name “deceased king”. There were also inscriptions with the name of Hatshepsut, which probably had their husband buried there. Together, this confirmed that this grave was that of Thutmosis II, reports co-excavation manager Mohamed Abdel Badi from the Egyptian archaeology authority. “This is the first royal grave that has been discovered in 1922 since the groundbreaking find of King Tutankhammun’s burial chamber,” says Egypt’s ancient Minister Sherif Fathy. “This is a special moment for Egyptology and the broader understanding of our common human history.”
With the grave now discovered, the last still missing grave of the pharaohs of the 18th dynasty was found. However, the grave of Thutmosis II is largely empty. Sarcophagus and grave goods are missing. As the archaeologists explain, this is not due to looting, but due to a recovery of the grave content in ancient times. Because of its unfavorable location in the valley, the grave was apparently flooded several times after heavy rain. Therefore, additions and the dead were already recovered from the grave in the third meantime via a subsequent ramp and housed elsewhere. The archaeologist team will continue to continue the examinations in the grave of the Pharaoh Thutmosis II and also search for further finds in the area.
Source: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, BBC