Potential Discovery of Second Tomb for Pharaoh Thutmose II in Egypt

A British archaeological team, led by Piers Litherland, believes they may have unearthed a second tomb belonging to Pharaoh Thutmose II near Luxor, following the recent discovery of another tomb close to that of Tutankhamun. The team is currently excavating the site below a man-made structure that could conceal the pharaoh's mummified remains.

A British archaeological team may have stumbled upon a second tomb belonging to Pharaoh Thutmose II in Egypt, a significant discovery that follows closely on the heels of another recently unearthed tomb more than a century since the famous find of Tutankhamun's burial site. Piers Litherland, leading the research, expressed optimism about the potential find, suggesting that it shows promise of housing the mummified remains of the ancient ruler.

The initial tomb was believed to have been emptied a mere six years after Thutmose II's burial, likely due to catastrophic flooding that prompted the relocation of the body. The new site is thought to be situated under a 23-metre (75 ft) artificial pile of materials, including limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster, which the ancient Egyptians creatively designed to resemble a natural mountain formation in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis near Luxor.

The first tomb, found behind a waterfall, suffered from extensive flood damage. As Egyptologists searched for it, they uncovered a posthumous inscription suggesting that the contents of the tomb had been shifted to another nearby location by Thutmose II's wife and half-sister, the noted Queen Hatshepsut. The British-Egyptian team is currently choosing to excavate the site manually, as previous attempts to tunnel into it posed considerable risks to their safety; they estimate that complete excavation will take an additional month.

In describing the first tomb's findings, Mr. Litherland noted that upon entering the burial chamber, the crew discovered stunning decorations emblematic of a royal tomb. “Part of the ceiling was still intact: a blue-painted ceiling with yellow stars on it. And blue-painted ceilings with yellow stars are only found in kings' tombs,” he elaborated.

Emotions ran high as Litherland recounted the moment of discovery during an interview on the BBC's Newshour. “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,” he said.

Thutmose II, who reigned from approximately 1493 to 1479 BC, is well-known for being married to Hatshepsut, who is regarded as one of Egypt's most significant pharaohs and one of the few female rulers to govern in her own right. The discoveries serve as a remarkable addition to Egyptology and interest surrounding ancient Egyptian history.