First Pharaoh's Tomb Found in Egypt Since Tutankhamun's

Egyptologists have made a groundbreaking discovery—the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal tomb found since that of Tutankhamun over a century ago. This significant find was made by a British-Egyptian team in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor. Previously, researchers believed that 18th Dynasty royal tombs were located over 2 km away, closer to the Valley of the Kings. Upon entering the burial chamber, the team found a decorated ceiling—painted blue with yellow stars—a feature exclusive to royal tombs. Dr. Piers Litherland, the mission's field director, described his emotional reaction to the discovery, saying, "The emotion of getting into these things is one of extraordinary bewilderment. When I came out, my wife was waiting outside, and the only thing I could do was burst into tears." King Thutmose II, who reigned from approximately 1493 to 1479 BC, was the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt’s greatest female pharaohs. His mummified remains had been found two centuries ago, but his original burial site had remained a mystery—until now. The tomb featured a large staircase and a descending corridor, initially blocked by flood debris and collapsed ceilings. The team navigated a narrow 40cm gap in a 10m passageway before reaching the burial chamber, where they uncovered religious scenes from the Amduat, confirming it as a royal tomb. However, the chamber itself was empty—not due to looting, but because it had been deliberately cleared. Evidence suggested the tomb had been flooded soon after Thutmose II's burial, prompting ancient Egyptians to relocate its contents. Despite the tomb being empty, archaeologists found alabaster jars inscribed with the names of Thutmose II and Queen Hatshepsut, alongside fragments of funerary furniture. "Thank goodness they did break one or two things because that's how we found out whose tomb it was," Dr. Litherland noted. This discovery is the culmination of over 12 years of work by the joint team from Dr. Litherland's New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The team has excavated 54 tombs in the western Theban mountains and identified over 30 royal wives and courtwomen. Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, hailed the find as "the first royal tomb discovered since the groundbreaking find of King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922," calling it "an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and our shared human history." The team now believes they have a rough idea of where Thutmose II’s relocated burial chamber is—and it may still contain its original treasures. I am Jojo uwimana thank you for watching.