In a groundbreaking excavation in Egypt, a British archaeologist and his team have potentially unearthed a second tomb believed to belong to King Thutmose II. This discovery comes on the heels of Piers Litherland’s recent announcement regarding the finding of a tomb, more than a century after the iconic Tutankhamun’s tomb was famously revealed to the world.
Mr. Litherland expressed his optimism to the Observer, suggesting that this newly speculated tomb could be the final resting place of the pharaoh’s mummified remains. It is believed that the initial tomb, discovered behind a waterfall, was ultimately relocated to a secondary location due to a catastrophic flood within six years of Thutmose II’s burial.
The potential site of the second tomb is concealed beneath a remarkable 23-meter man-made structure composed of limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster. This ingenious construction by the ancient Egyptians was designed to mimic a natural mountain formation in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor.
Egyptologists made a pivotal breakthrough when they uncovered a posthumous inscription hinting at the possibility of the tomb’s contents being moved to a nearby location, orchestrated by Thutmose II’s wife and half-sister, Queen Hatshepsut. The collaborative British-Egyptian team is diligently working to excavate the tomb manually, as previous attempts to tunnel into the structure were deemed perilous.
“We are on track to fully unveil the tomb within the next month,” remarked Mr. Litherland, underscoring the team’s unwavering dedication to unraveling this ancient mystery.
The team’s initial discovery in an area traditionally associated with the burial sites of royal women revealed a surprising revelation upon entering the burial chamber. The elaborate decorations within, particularly a distinctive blue-painted ceiling adorned with yellow stars, strongly indicated the significance of this tomb as belonging to a pharaoh.
Mr. Litherland, reflecting on the initial moments of discovery, shared his profound sense of awe and bewilderment at the unexpected find. “The emotion of stumbling upon these treasures is truly overwhelming. It is a turbulent mix of emotions when encountering something so unexpected,” he recounted in a recent interview with the BBC.
Thutmose II, renowned for his marriage to Queen Hatshepsut, a formidable female pharaoh in ancient Egyptian history, holds a significant place in the lineage of the famous Tutankhamun. Tutankhamun, who reigned from approximately 1493 to 1479 BC, was a pivotal figure whose tomb was famously unearthed by British archaeologists in 1922.
As the excavation of the potential second tomb continues to captivate the archaeological community, the unfolding revelations promise to shed new light on the intricate history and legacy of Thutmose II and the enigmatic world of ancient Egypt.
Stay tuned for further updates as the British-Egyptian team delves deeper into
