Egypt Announces First Royal Tomb Discovery Since King Tut

The royal tomb of King Tutankhamun, located in Egypt’s famous Valley of the Kings, was discovered in 1922. Now, for the first time since then, another royal tomb has been unearthed in Egypt: that of King Thutmose II. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiques has dubbed the discovery “one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years.”

A joint British-Egyptian archaeological team discovered the burial site of Thutmose II, a pharaoh who ruled from 1493 to 1479 BCE. Egyptian officials say it is the last missing royal tomb of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, to which King Tut also belonged. The tomb is located in the Thebes region, west of Luxor, and near the Valley of the Kings. Archaeologists first uncovered the royal tomb entrance, then named “Tomb C4,” in 2022. Further excavation of the site confirmed its royal status. The tomb contained vessels inscribed with the name of King Thutmose II, indicating the burial site was his.

Inscriptions found in the royal tomb also mentioned Thutmose II’s principal wife and half-sister, Queen Hatshepsut, suggesting she oversaw the funerary arrangements. When Thutmose II died around age 30, Hatshepsut’s infant stepson, Thutmose III, technically succeeded his father as pharaoh. Hatshepsut began to rule as regent in his stead but eventually assumed the position of pharaoh, co-ruling with Thutmose III for over 20 years. After Hatshepsut’s death, Thutmose III became the sole leader of Egypt. Under his rule, Egypt’s empire reached the height of its power and expansion.

“An Important Addition to the History”

Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the royal tomb as “one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent years.” He continued, “The artifacts discovered there are an important addition to the history of the archaeological area and the reign of King Thutmose II, as the funerary furniture of this king was found for the first time, for whom there is no funerary furniture in museums around the world.”

The tomb was found in a poor state of preservation due to historical flooding, so many of its original contents had been moved to another location. Among these was the mummy of King Thutmose II, which was found in the 19th century at the Deir el-Bahari Cachette, a nearby archaeological site. However, the royal tomb has still yielded plenty of fascinating finds, including decorated plaster fragments and sections from the “Book of Amduat,” a religious text meant to guide the deceased through the underworld. These artifacts offer important insights into the funerary practices of King Thutmose II and demonstrate how his burial influenced later royal tombs in the area. Excavations will continue at the site for at least two more years, during which archaeologists aim to find more of the royal tomb’s missing contents.