In a landmark discovery, archaeologists in Egypt have announced the unearthing of King Thutmose II's tomb, marking the first such find of an Egyptian royal tomb in a century.
Located near Luxor, this is the first pharaonic tomb discovered since the treasures of Tutankhamun's tomb captivated the world over a century ago in 1922, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Thutmose's tomb is situated west of the Valley of the Kings, a globally significant archaeological site known for housing the burial grounds of numerous ancient Egyptian royals and nobles, notably Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut.
Living nearly 3,500 years ago, Thutmose was an ancestor of Tutankhamun. His wife, Queen Hatshepsut, holds a distinguished place in history as one of the few women to rule Egypt. Her mortuary temple stands on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor, close to her husband's newly discovered tomb.
Thutmose reigned as a king of ancient Egypt's 18th dynasty, and his tomb represents the last undiscovered tomb of this dynasty.
The entrance to Thutmose's tomb was initially found in October 2022 by an archaeological team, as reported by Archaeology News. Initially, it was believed to be the burial site of a queen, but further excavation revealed inscriptions referring to Thutmose II as the “deceased king” and Hatshepsut.
Shortly after the king's burial, the tomb experienced flooding, which damaged many of its contents; however, some funerary furniture was recovered. The antiquities ministry has hailed the tomb's discovery as “one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years.”
Professor Mohamed Abdel-Badel, head of Egypt's Antiquities Sector, told Archaeology News that the team successfully “recovered and restored fallen plaster fragments” adorned with blue inscriptions, including excerpts from the Book of the Amduat, described as “a key funerary text used in royal burials.”
The addition of Thutmose's tomb to the list of ancient Egyptian wonders is expected to bolster tourism. Last year, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and is aiming for 18 million in 2025. The highly anticipated opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at the base of the Giza pyramids could help achieve this goal.