Archaeologists have uncovered the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II in Egypt’s Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, making it the most significant archaeological discovery since the unearthing of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The find, made by a joint team from the New Kingdom Research Foundation (NKRF) and Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, sheds new light on the mysteries of the 18th Dynasty.
The discovery initially took researchers by surprise, as they believed the site to be the burial place of a royal wife. However, a wide staircase, a grand doorway, and an ornately illustrated burial chamber pointed toward a royal burial, later confirmed to belong to Thutmose II.
Thutmose II, who ruled Egypt from approximately 1493 to 1479 BCE, was the husband and half-brother of the legendary female pharaoh Hatshepsut. His reign has long been overshadowed by his powerful wife, his son Thutmose III, and his father, Thutmose I. The discovery of his tomb provides long-awaited answers about his burial and the political landscape of ancient Egypt.
Dr. Piers Litherland, leader of the excavation and an Honorary Research Associate at Cambridge University, described the discovery as “a monumental breakthrough.” He noted that the presence of the Amduat—a sacred royal text—on the tomb’s walls was a major clue that it belonged to a king rather than a queen.
Artefacts found within the tomb, including alabaster jar fragments bearing the names of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut, provided definitive proof of the pharaoh’s identity. Researchers also believe a catastrophic flood during the reign of Thutmose III may have led to the relocation of the tomb’s contents, raising new questions about the body previously thought to belong to Thutmose II.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, called the find “an extraordinary moment for Egyptology” and emphasized its importance in deepening the world’s understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization.
