Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II Discovered After 100 Years in Egypt

The tomb of Thutmose II, an Egyptian pharaoh who dominated round 3,500 years in the past, has been uncovered west of the Valley of the Kings. This discovery marks the primary time in a century that the burial web site of a pharaoh has been discovered, as confirmed by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The tomb, although largely empty, offers essential insights into historical burial practices. Initial findings recommend that quickly after his burial, flooding led to the elimination of the grave items, leaving the chamber void of artefacts and a mummy. Despite this, ceramics inscribed along with his identify had been recognized on the web site, enabling archaeologists to confirm the tomb’s possession.

Identification and Historical Significance

According to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the tomb was first positioned in October 2022. However, it was solely in late 2024 and early 2025 that archaeologists, by means of evaluation of pottery fragments, confirmed it belonged to Thutmose II. Egyptologist Piers Litherland from the University of Cambridge, who co-led the excavation staff, stated in an interview with Live Science {that a} piece of pottery bearing a label indicating the presence of natron, a key embalming substance, confirmed {that a} burial initially happened inside the tomb.

Possibility of a Second Burial Site

Litherland additionally talked about that whereas the tomb itself was not looted, all its contents had been eliminated after the flooding. The chance of a second, undiscovered tomb the place these objects could have been relocated is being thought-about. Some consultants consider {that a} mummy present in a cache at Deir el-Bahari may belong to Thutmose II, however discrepancies concerning the estimated age at demise forged doubt on this idea. Ongoing analysis continues to discover whether or not his stays and burial items are preserved elsewhere, doubtlessly providing extra insights into Egypt’s royal burials