New discovery of the grave of a pharaoh from that of … Tounkhamon

The grave of the Pharaoh Thoutmôsis II (r. 1492 – 1479 BC), the only one of the 18th dynasty which still lacked on the board, was discovered in the region of Mont de Thèbes, west of Luxor (Egypt) more than 2 km from the Valley of Kings. Updated by Egyptologist Piers literland, it is “Considered one of the most important discoveries in recent years” is written in the press release. It is the second royal burial discovered since that of Touânkhamon in 1922.

The tomb had already been located in 2022 next to that of Hatchepsout, the wife and sister of Thoutmôsis II. Initially, the experts had thought that it was the burial of the second royal wife, Queen Iset, mother of Thoutmôsis III.

Subsequent excavations, however, revealed, despite the flood of the tomb during antiquity, fragments of calcite jar bearing the names of Thoutmôsis II and Queen Hatchepsout, thus confirming that the tomb was that of Thoutmôsis II.

“This is a major discovery that makes it possible to fill the sepulchral gap of this pharaoh. It brings new data to the exclusivity of the use of the Valley of Kings as the only funeral location privileged by the sovereigns of the 18th dynasty after Ahmosis Ier ”explains French Egyptologist Jean-Guillaume Olette-Pelletier.

The damaged interior of the tomb revealed a plaster covering decorated with extracts from the “book of what is in the duty”, an Egyptian funeral text, as well as a fragment of yellow star ceiling on a blue background, Characteristic of royal sepulchral chambers. Certain funeral furniture belonging to Thoutmôsis II have also been found in the tomb without details on the part of the Egyptian authorities.

Preliminary studies have indicated that the tomb had been emptied during Antiquity. The mummy of Thoutmôsis would be part of the royal mummies discovered in Deir El Bahari, above the funerary temple of Hatchepsout, transported by the high priest of Amon of Karnak Pinedjem Ier (XXI dynasty).

The discovery of the burial of Thoutmôsis II falls in time, since the great Egyptian museum in Cairo must open its doors in July. It remains to be seen whether the objects discovered will be exhibited there or if they will join the mummy of Thoutmôsis II, exhibited in the room of the royal mummies of the Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo.