A major archaeological breakthrough has revealed the tomb of King Thutmose II near Luxor, marking the first discovery of a pharaonic royal burial site in over a century. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the find, made by a joint Egyptian-British team.
A Lost Tomb of the 18th Dynasty
Located west of the Valley of the Kings in the Luxor mountains, the tomb was the last missing burial site of the kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. It is also the first royal tomb to be discovered since Howard Carter unearthed King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922.
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Archaeologists initially found the tomb’s entrance and main passage in 2022 but believed it belonged to a royal wife due to its proximity to the tomb of Queen Hatshepsut and the wives of King Thutmose III. However, further excavations revealed alabaster vessels bearing inscriptions with the name of Thutmose II and his wife, Queen Hatshepsut, confirming the tomb’s owner.
Artifacts and Findings
The tomb contained fragments of funerary furniture, remnants of alabaster jars, and pieces of plaster with blue inscriptions, yellow stars, and religious writings from the ancient funerary text The Book of Amduat, which details the journey through the underworld. Experts noted that this was the first-ever discovery of funerary furniture belonging to Thutmose II, as no such items are known to exist in museums worldwide.
Despite the significance of the discovery, the tomb was found in a poor state due to flooding shortly after the king’s burial, which caused damage to its interior and likely led to the removal of most of its original contents. Archaeologists believe tomb raiders may have looted the site centuries ago.
The Life and Reign of Thutmose II
King Thutmose II ruled Egypt around 3,500 years ago, with historians estimating his reign lasted either 13 years (1493–1479 BC) or as few as three years (1482–1479 BC). He was married to Queen Hatshepsut, who later became one of Egypt’s most powerful female pharaohs.
While his reign is often overshadowed by his father, Thutmose I, and his son, Thutmose III—known as the “Napoleon of Egypt” for his military conquests—Thutmose II played a key role in suppressing uprisings in Nubia and quelling rebellions in the Levant.
His tomb was discovered at Mount Thebes, roughly 1.4 miles from the Valley of the Kings. Interestingly, his mummy had already been found in the 19th century at the Deir el-Bahari Cachette, where it had likely been moved centuries after looting. Today, his remains are on display at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
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Egyptian authorities have hailed the find as one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent years. Unlike Tutankhamun’s tomb, which was filled with over 5,000 artifacts, Thutmose II’s burial chamber did not contain lavish treasures. However, the discovery is a crucial addition to the history of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. Excavations are ongoing, with archaeologists hopeful they may recover more of the tomb’s original contents.