A team of Egyptian and British researchers has discovered a tomb near Luxor that belonged to Pharaoh Thutmose II of the 18th Dynasty, who ruled around 3,500 years ago.
The announcement was made by the Egyptian Antiquities Authority. This marks the first pharaonic burial site found since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.
It was previously believed that Thutmose II’s mummy was found back in 1881. However, the team that recently uncovered the original burial site has cast doubt on the claim that those remains belonged to him.
What We Know About Pharaoh Thutmose II and His Tomb
Pharaoh Thutmose II was an ancestor of Tutankhamun. His wife was the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, whose expansive mortuary temple is located on the west bank of the Nile, near the Valley of the Kings, just a few kilometers from where her husband’s tomb was found.
Archaeologists first stumbled upon the entrance to Thutmose II’s tomb in 2022. Initially, they thought it led to the burial site of one of the pharaoh’s wives.
According to the researchers, shortly after Thutmose II’s burial, water flooded the tomb chamber, damaging its interior. Meanwhile, the pharaoh’s remains were moved to another location, as reported by Science Alert.
However, scientists discovered artifacts among the limestone debris inside the tomb that helped clarify who was once buried there. These included fragments of vases inscribed with the names of the pharaoh and his wife. It is likely that the vases were broken during the relocation of the tomb’s contents. The tomb’s status was also indicated by a blue ceiling adorned with yellow stars, a feature that distinguishes pharaonic burials from others.
According to the mission leader, Dr. Pierce Litherland, the team will continue to study the tomb and search for its original contents.
In recent years, Egypt has seen a surge in significant archaeological discoveries. This is crucial for the country as it develops its tourism industry, a key source of foreign currency income.
Last year, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists. This number is expected to rise to 18 million by 2025.