Ian Casey reports on the exciting archaeological find in Luxor, Egypt, where researchers speculate they have located a second burial site for Thutmose II, just after the significant announcement of another royal tomb's discovery. This second tomb may contain the pharaoh's mummified remains, potentially relocating them to a safer site after the first tomb flooded.
Discovery of Potential Second Tomb of Thutmose II Excites Archaeologists
Discovery of Potential Second Tomb of Thutmose II Excites Archaeologists
A British archaeologist believes he may have uncovered a second tomb belonging to the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Thutmose II, following the recent uncovering of another significant tomb.
A British archaeologist has possibly unearthed a second tomb in Egypt associated with the pharaoh Thutmose II. The discovery comes shortly after Piers Litherland, the project's lead, disclosed a recently found tomb more than a century since the iconic Tutankhamun's burial site was discovered. Litherland expressed confidence that this new site may hold the mummified remains of Thutmose II.
According to Litherland, the initial tomb was likely compromised by floodwaters just six years following the pharaoh's burial, leading to a move to this believed secondary site. The location of the second tomb is suspected to lie beneath a 23-meter high man-made mound of limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster, which ancient Egyptians designed to blend with the mountain landscape in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor.
The first tomb was found behind a waterfall, and it's thought to have been vacated due to flooding. An inscription discovered during the search suggested that Thutmose II's wife and half-sister, Hatshepsut, might have facilitated the relocation of the burial contents. The British-Egyptian excavation team is now cautiously working to uncover the tomb by hand, since prior attempts to tunnel in were considered perilous. “We should be able to take the whole thing down in about another month,” noted Litherland.
The team had previously located Thutmose II's tomb in a sector associated with royal women’s burial sites. However, they were astonished to find a burial chamber adorned with royal symbols, including a partially intact ceiling painted blue with yellow stars—a feature exclusive to kings' tombs. Mr. Litherland shared his feelings of elation and surprise during a recent interview, highlighting the emotional intensity accompanying such unexpected discoveries.
Thutmose II is renowned for being married to Queen Hatshepsut, one of history's notable female pharaohs who ruled independently. He is also recognized as an ancestor of the famed Tutankhamun, whose reign is believed to have occurred between approximately 1493 to 1479 BC. The discovery aligns with the larger context of significant archaeological findings in Egypt, including the first pharaoh's tomb unearthed since Tutankhamun's, as well as recent studies revealing the surprising qualities of Ancient Egyptian mummies.
