Egypt discovers first royal tomb in over a century near Luxor

In a groundbreaking announcement, Egyptian officials revealed the discovery of an ancient royal tomb, marking the first such find in over a century.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed that the tomb was located in the Mount of Thebes area on the west bank of the Nile, near Luxor. This discovery, hailed as a monumental step in understanding Egypt's ancient civilization, is the latest triumph of the Egyptian-British archaeological mission, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Sherif Fathi, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, expressed immense pride in the excavation efforts, underscoring the significance of the discovery in unearthing further secrets and treasures of Egypt’s ancient past. The tomb, determined to belong to King Thutmose II, is the last of the royal tombs from Egypt’s illustrious Eighteenth Dynasty, dating back to the 15th century B.C.

This marks the first royal tomb found since the unearthing of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, making it a momentous occasion in Egyptology. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the find as “one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years.”

The discovery was made in October 2022, when the excavation team uncovered the entrance and main passage of the tomb. Initially, the site was thought to be the resting place of one of the royal wives of the Thutmosid kings. However, further archaeological evidence revealed that the tomb belonged to Thutmose II, who reigned for less than five years before his death around 1479 B.C.

Thutmose II’s reign, though short-lived, was marked by his marriage to his half-sister, Hatshepsut, who is believed to have been the real power behind the throne. After Thutmose II's death at around 30, Hatshepsut assumed the role of pharaoh during the reign of his heir, Thutmose III.

Piers Litherland, the head of the British side of the excavation mission, remarked that the tomb's simple architectural design serves as a “prototype” for the later tombs of the Eighteenth Dynasty rulers.

Though the tomb’s condition was poor due to flooding shortly after the king’s death, it remains a fascinating archaeological find. Mohamed Abdel-Badii, head of Egypt's Antiquities Sector, revealed that the flooding had “damaged its interior,” requiring extensive restoration efforts by the archaeological team. "Preliminary studies suggest that the tomb’s original contents were relocated to another site during ancient times after the flooding,” Abdel-Badii added.

The tomb contained numerous significant artifacts, including fragments of alabaster jars inscribed with the names of the king and his chief consort, funerary furniture belonging to the king, remnants of plaster, yellow star motifs, and portions of the Book of Amduat, a key religious text associated with royal tombs in ancient Egypt.

Although Thutmose II's mummy was discovered in 1881 in the Al-Deir El-Bahari Cache, it is believed to have been moved there by grave robbers in search of treasure.

Litherland concluded, stating that the team will “continue its work to uncover more secrets of the area and locate the final resting place of the tomb’s original contents.” The discovery marks a new chapter in the ongoing exploration of Egypt’s royal tombs and the enigmatic civilization that once flourished along the Nile.

By Vafa Guliyeva