King Tutankhamun is known worldwide for his opulent burial and the dramatic discovery of his intact tomb by Howard Carter in 1922. The find was unprecedented, as it was the last time archaeologists uncovered an unlooted royal burial. Now, 103 years later, another significant milestone has been reached with the identification of the tomb of Thutmose II near the Valley of the Kings. This marks the first time in over a century that researchers have the opportunity to study a pharaoh’s burial chamber firsthand, even if the circumstances of the find are vastly different from those surrounding King Tut.
Unlike the breathtaking treasures found in Tutankhamun’s tomb, the burial chamber of Thutmose II was entirely devoid of artifacts. It appears that the tomb was deliberately emptied, rather than plundered by grave robbers, a discovery that reshapes traditional understanding of New Kingdom burial practices. “In fact, the tomb turned out to be completely empty, not because it had been robbed, but because it had been deliberately emptied,” explained archaeologist Piers Litherland. Litherland has been excavating in the region for a decade and originally believed the tomb shaft he discovered belonged to a royal wife. The reality of his discovery, however, was far more intriguing.
Further investigation revealed that the tomb had been subjected to natural flooding, which may have played a crucial role in why it was abandoned so soon after its construction. “We then worked out that the tomb had been flooded. It had been built underneath a waterfall, and it had filled with water at some stage within about six years of the burial,” Litherland noted. The presence of water damage suggested that those responsible for safeguarding the pharaoh’s final resting place may have realized that the tomb was untenable for preserving his remains. Rather than risk further deterioration, they likely moved the burial to a safer location, leaving the original chamber empty.
Despite the lack of artifacts, the tomb provided enough evidence to confirm its original occupant. Carved alabaster shards bearing the name of Thutmose II were discovered, along with ceiling decorations that left little doubt regarding the burial’s royal status. “Thank goodness they did actually break one or two things, because that’s how we found out whose tomb it was,” Litherland reflected. The ceiling’s intricate design was especially telling, as it featured a celestial motif with golden stars and visual depictions of the Amduat, an esoteric funerary text reserved exclusively for kings. This distinctive artwork provided a crucial clue that the tomb once belonged to a ruler of great importance.
Thutmose II, who reigned from 1493 to 1479 BCE, remains a somewhat enigmatic figure in ancient Egyptian history. He was the husband of the famous female pharaoh Hatshepsut, a ruler who defied gender conventions and governed Egypt with absolute authority. Additionally, he was the father of Thutmose III, a legendary military strategist whose campaigns expanded Egypt’s dominion to its greatest territorial extent. The possibility that a second, undisturbed burial site for Thutmose II may exist offers exciting prospects for future research. Mohsen Kamel, assistant field director on the excavation, described this potential as “an astonishing possibility,” hinting that archaeologists may still uncover hidden royal tombs that could reshape historical understanding of this period.
While the rediscovery of Thutmose II’s original tomb does not mirror the grandeur of Tutankhamun’s, its historical implications are profound. The find sheds new light on ancient Egyptian burial customs, the practical challenges of tomb construction, and the extent of posthumous relocations of royal remains. Should archaeologists locate a secondary, intact burial of Thutmose II, it could provide invaluable insights into the rituals and funerary goods associated with early New Kingdom pharaohs. As research continues, this discovery reaffirms that even after millennia, Egypt’s ancient past still holds secrets waiting to be uncovered.
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