A group of archaeologists from Egypt and Great Britain made a unique discovery – the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II, who ruled over 3,500 years ago. This is the first tomb of a ruler found after the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922.
Unexpected discovery in the Theban Necropolis
The research was conducted in the western part of the Theban necropolis near Luxor. Archaeologists initially suspected that the discovered tomb belonged to one of the Pharaoh’s wives. However, when they entered the burial chamber, they were struck by a blue ceiling with yellow stars – a characteristic feature of tombs of only pharaohs.
The head of the research team, Piers Littenland, stated that this find caused a storm of emotions within the team: “We were stunned because we discovered something completely unexpected. When I surfaced, all I could do was break down in tears.”
Mysteries of the burial: why was the tomb empty?
The tomb had a long corridor and stairs leading to the central chamber. The passage was blocked by debris from collapses and flooding. After months of excavations, the team reached the main hall, but no remains of the Pharaoh or valuable artifacts were found there. Archaeologists speculated that the burial was intentionally emptied in ancient times – probably because the tomb was located under a waterfall and had suffered damage.
Despite this, the researchers discovered important artifacts: fragments of gypsum vessels bearing the names of Thutmose II and his wife Hatshepsut. This helped confirm that the tomb indeed belonged to this pharaoh. Scientists also suggest that the true burial site of the Pharaoh may be located elsewhere.
Who was Thutmose II?
Thutmose II ruled Egypt from 1492 to 1478 B.C. He is known as the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most influential female rulers of Egypt. It was previously believed that the mummy discovered in 1881 belonged to him, but the new discovery prompts a reassessment of this theory.
A new step in Egyptology
This discovery was the result of 12 years of research by the New Kingdom Research Foundation in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. During this time, archaeologists uncovered over 50 tombs belonging to the Pharaoh’s wives and court women.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fati, noted: “This is a historic moment for Egyptology. For the first time in a hundred years, we have discovered a Pharaoh’s tomb, and this will help us better understand our shared history.”
The researchers hope that further excavations will help locate Thutmose II’s true tomb and perhaps even uncover his untouched treasures.
