Archaeologists in Egypt, led by Piers Litherland, believe they have stumbled upon a second tomb of Thutmose II, just weeks after uncovering another tomb. The team is excavating the site near Luxor, revealing extraordinary decorations and further insights into ancient Egyptian funerary practices.
Exciting Discovery: Possible Second Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II Unearthed
Exciting Discovery: Possible Second Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II Unearthed
British archaeologists may have located a second burial site for the legendary pharaoh Thutmose II, marking a significant find shortly after the discovery of another tomb.
In a remarkable development for Egyptology, British archaeologist Piers Litherland has announced that his team may have found a previously undiscovered tomb of King Thutmose II in Egypt. This discovery follows the recent unveiling of another tomb, the first in more than a century since the famous tomb of Tutankhamun was located in 1922.
Mr. Litherland has speculated that this second site may hold the mummified remains of the pharaoh, believed to have been moved to this location following an initial burial. He posits that the original tomb was flooded only six years post-burial and consequently relocated.
The New Kingdom Research Foundation, which Mr. Litherland is part of, has been excavating the possible tomb site, situated beneath an impressive 23-meter man-made structure consisting of limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster designed to cleverly mimic mountainous terrain in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, located near Luxor.
The first tomb of Thutmose II was discovered behind a waterfall, further complicating the excavation process. An inscription was uncovered during the searches for that tomb, suggesting that its treasures may have been transferred to this newer site nearby by Hatshepsut, Thutmose II's wife and half-sister.
The excavation team is currently working carefully to expose the tomb by hand as tunneling attempts were deemed too hazardous. Mr. Litherland confidently stated, "We should be able to take the whole thing down in about another month," as excitement grows within the archaeological community.
The initial tomb uncovered by the researchers was located in an area known for the burial sites of royal women. However, upon entering the burial chamber, they were captivated to find it's richly decorated – a characteristic typically reserved for royal tombs. Mr. Litherland described the ceiling décor featuring blue paint speckled with yellow stars, an exclusive design for pharaohs.
He expressed the profound emotional experience of these findings, stating, "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."
This exciting potential find brings to light the importance of Thutmose II in ancient Egyptian history, as he is noted for being the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, one of the most distinguished pharaohs and rare female rulers. Additionally, Thutmose II is considered an ancestor of Tutankhamun, whose reign spanned approximately from 1493 to 1479 BC. This significant discovery holds promise for further insights into the illustrious history of ancient Egypt.
