A remarkable discovery has been made in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor, where a joint team from Dr. Litherland's New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities uncovered the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II. This groundbreaking find, achieved after more than 12 years of dedicated research, represents the first pharaoh's tomb discovery in Egypt since that of Tutankhamun. The researchers found fragments of alabaster jars with inscriptions of Thutmose II and Hatshepsut, marking a significant breakthrough in Egyptology.
The team had previously excavated 54 tombs in the western part of the Theban mountain, identifying over 30 royal wives and court women. Their latest discovery not only sheds light on the 18th dynasty but also dispels the long-held belief that these burial chambers were located closer to the Valley of the Kings, more than 2 kilometers away.
Dr. Litherland described the physically demanding process of accessing the burial chamber:
"It was only after crawling through a 10m (32ft) passageway that had a small 40cm gap at the top that we got into the burial chamber." – Dr Litherland
Despite the effort, the team found that
"the tomb turned out to be completely empty." – Dr Litherland
However, Dr. Litherland clarified that this was not due to robbery but because it had been deliberately emptied. The discovery of remnants beneath a waterfall suggested that the alabaster fragments were broken during the tomb's relocation. He noted,
"And thank goodness they actually did break one or two things because that's how we found out whose tomb it was." – Dr Litherland
This discovery not only solved the mystery of the location of early 18th dynasty kings' tombs but also revealed artefacts associated with Thutmose II's burial for the first time. Known predominantly as the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, Thutmose II's tomb was the last undiscovered royal tomb of this dynasty.
The blue-painted ceilings adorned with yellow stars indicated that they had indeed located a king's tomb, as such decorations are unique to royal burial sites. This find provides an invaluable glimpse into ancient Egyptian history and culture.
The team's arduous journey and eventual success were met with overwhelming emotion. Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Dr. Litherland shared,
"The emotion of getting into these things is just one of extraordinary bewilderment because when you come across something you're not expecting to find, it's emotionally extremely turbulent really," – Dr Litherland
Upon exiting the tomb, Dr. Litherland was moved to tears by the experience.
"And when I came out, my wife was waiting outside and the only thing I could do was burst into tears." – Dr Litherland
Sherif Fathy, a representative from Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, remarked on the significance of this find:
"It is an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and the broader understanding of our shared human story." – Sherif Fathy
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