Thutmose II: First pharaoh's tomb found in Egypt since Tutankhamun's

Egyptian archaeologists recently announced the first discovery of another pharaoh, Thutmose II's, tomb, more than a century after the tomb of Tutankhamun was found. This is the last undiscovered royal tomb of Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty, and its discovery holds significant historical importance. This finding promises to shed new light on the era.

A joint team of British and Egyptian archaeologists discovered the tomb in the West Valley of the Theban Necropolis, near the city of Luxor. Previously, researchers believed that the tomb of the Eighteenth Dynasty pharaoh was located two kilometers away, closer to the Valley of the Kings. However, this discovery challenges that traditional understanding, prompting a reevaluation of historical assumptions.

The archaeological team initially discovered the tomb in an area associated with royal women's burials, but upon entering the tomb, they found that its decorative style clearly bore the characteristics of a pharaoh. Dr. Piers Litherland, head of the mission site, stated, "Parts of the ceiling are still intact and painted with yellow stars on a blue background. This type of ceiling decoration is usually only found in pharaohs' tombs." These details confirmed the tomb's royal status.

Dr. Litherland revealed to the BBC's "Newscast" program that he was shocked at the time. "The feeling when entering these tombs is an indescribable bewilderment, because emotions are very intense when you discover something unexpected." He also said, "When I came out, my wife was waiting for me outside, and all I could do was cry." Dr. Litherland believes that this discovery solves the mystery of the location of the early Eighteenth Dynasty kings' tombs, marking a significant breakthrough in understanding the period.

Although the mummy of Thutmose II was discovered two centuries ago, its original burial site had never been found. Thutmose II was Tutankhamun's ancestor and is believed to have reigned from approximately 1493 to 1479 BC. Thutmose II is best known for his marriage to Queen Hatshepsut, who is considered one of Egypt's greatest pharaohs and one of the few female pharaohs to rule in her own name. Their relationship was a cornerstone of Egyptian history.

Dr. Litherland stated that the tomb's "huge staircase and a very large descending corridor" indicate its grand scale. "It took us a long time to get through all of this," he noted, adding that the passages were blocked by debris washed in by floods, and the ceiling had collapsed. "Only after climbing through a 10-meter (32-foot) long passage with a small gap of only 40 centimeters at the top did we enter the tomb chamber." There, they discovered the blue ceiling and scenes from the religious text "Amduat," which were exclusive to kings. Dr. Litherland said this was another key indication that they had found a king's tomb, solidifying their findings.

The archaeological team began clearing the debris, initially expecting to find crushed burial remains underneath. But Dr. Litherland said, "The tomb was completely empty, not because it was robbed, but because it was deliberately emptied." They then deduced that the tomb had been flooded a few years after the king's burial—"it was built under a waterfall"—so the contents were moved to another location in ancient times. This relocation explained the lack of artifacts within the tomb itself.

By sifting through tons of limestone in the tomb chamber, they discovered fragments of alabaster jars inscribed with the names of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut. Dr. Litherland said that these alabaster fragments "were probably broken when the tomb was moved," adding, "Thank goodness they did break one or two things, because that's how we found out whose tomb it was." These artifacts are the first discovered items related to the burial of Thutmose II, providing crucial evidence for identification.

Dr. Litherland said his team has a rough idea of the location of a second tomb, which may still be intact and may contain treasures. Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ahmed Issa, stated, "This is the first royal tomb to be discovered since the groundbreaking discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922." "This is an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and for a broader understanding of our shared human story," highlighting the significance of the discovery for both historical research and cultural heritage.