The tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II, the fourth ruler of Egypt’s 18th dynasty who lived about 3,500 years ago, has been discovered.
According to AFP on Wednesday, a joint team of British and Egyptian archaeologists discovered the tomb in the western valley of the Theban necropolis, near the ancient city of Luxor in southern Egypt.
It is the first pharaoh’s tomb to be uncovered since the excavation of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.
In 2022, the tomb’s entrance was initially spotted in an area west of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. At first, experts believed it was connected to Queen Hatshepsut’s burial chamber. However, further investigation of the interior revealed signs of a pharaoh.
The excavation director, Dr. Piers Litherland, explained that flood debris and a collapsed ceiling blocked the entrance to the tomb, prolonging the excavation process. He added that the tomb was completely empty, not due to robbery but because it had been deliberately emptied.
He continued by saying that inside, they discovered inscriptions bearing the names of both Thutmose II and Queen Hatshepsut, confirming the tomb’s ownership.
Thutmose II was the great-great-grandfather of the legendary Tutankhamun. Historians estimate his reign lasted from 1493 to 1479 BC. His half-sister and wife was Queen Hatshepsut.
Queen Hatshepsut is one of the most prominent female pharaohs of ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom era. She started one of the longest and most prosperous periods in Egyptian history and is regarded as one of the most successful pharaohs.
This discovery comes at a crucial time for Egypt’s tourism industry. Since the political upheaval of the “Arab Spring” in 2011, the government has enthusiastically promoted new archaeological discoveries to revive the industry.
In 2024, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and aims to attract 18 million visitors this year.
