Archaeologists unearth ancient tomb in Egypt belonging to King Thutmose II.
This remarkable discovery stems from a collaborative effort between Egyptian and British experts, who revealed the tomb’s location just two miles west of the iconic Valley of the Kings, resting on the western banks of the Nile.
On a momentous Tuesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the finding via a detailed Facebook post, generating excitement in both academic and local communities.
What makes this revelation particularly thrilling is that it marks the first royal tomb unearthed since the much-celebrated unveiling of King Tutankhamen’s tomb back in 1922—a milestone in Egyptology.
The initial entrance and corridor of the tomb were uncovered in October 2022, leading archaeologists to initially think it belonged to the royal consorts of Thutmose II. Its proximity to the tombs of Thutmose III’s wives and Queen Hatshepsut, who had converted her own tomb for royal purposes before ascending to pharaoh, fueled this belief.
“This assumption resonated because of the historical context and surrounding burial sites,” the post elaborated.
Among the treasures discovered were artifacts that set the record straight about the tomb’s true owner. Archaeologists uncovered remarkable fragments of alabaster jars, each inscribed with the revered name of Pharaoh Thutmose II, along with markings identifying his primary royal consort, the exceptional Queen Hatshepsut.
Thutmose II is believed to have lived between 1492 and 1479 BC, a timeline established through scholarly research by University College London.
Regrettably, the tomb did not remain unscathed with the passage of time; excessive flooding after the king’s demise severely marred its interior. The damage was extensive, requiring dedicated restoration by the archaeological team to carefully piece together the remnants of fallen plaster.
Mohamed Ismail Khaled, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, considers this discovery an exceptional archaeological breakthrough, one elevating our understanding of ancient Egyptian societies.
“The artifacts unearthed provide essential insights into the era and the significance of Thutmose II’s reign,” Khaled articulated in the post.
Moreover, this extraordinary discovery revealed funerary furniture belonging to the king—a first for Thutmose II, as none such items have previously graced the halls of museums around the globe.
As an insightful aside, even a casual visitor could wander into Luxor and indulge in local shops, perhaps picking up handcrafted artifacts that evoke the same ancient spirit, forging connections across thousands of centuries.
