First Tomb of a Pharaoh in 100 Years Discovered in Egypt (7 photos + 1 video)

Archaeologists have found the first burial chamber of an Egyptian king in a century. The burial site of Thutmose II, who reigned about 3,500 years ago, is in the western part of Luxor known as the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922.





The entrance to the tomb was discovered in 2022. During the excavations, clues emerged pointing to the burial of the pharaoh.

Mohammed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the vessel fragments bore inscriptions identifying Thutmose II as the "deceased king." They also bore the name of his wife, Hatshepsut.



The pharaoh's remains were found in the 19th century near the burial chamber. Experts believe the mummy was moved several centuries after the tomb was looted. The chamber is in poor condition, having been flooded shortly after Thutmose II's death. Scientists have found remnants of blue inscriptions and yellow stars, as well as decoration and excerpts from a religious book.





Thutmose II was the fourth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, and reigned from 1492 to 1479 BC. He died at the age of 30. His tomb was the last lost burial site from that era, according to experts. However, it was considered less important than the tombs of his father Thutmose I, his son Thutmose III, and his wife Hatshepsut.



Thutmose I was the first pharaoh to have a tomb carved out in the Valley of the Kings. And Thutmose III was known as the "Napoleon of Egypt" for his conquests and expansionism.

Queen Hatshepsut was not only the first female pharaoh, she expanded trade routes and erected many monuments. Her half-brother and husband, Thutmose II, is known for suppressing a rebellion in Nubia and stopping rebels in the Levant.

"The Secretary General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities called the discovery one of the most significant archaeological achievements in recent years. The artifacts found are a valuable contribution to the study of the reign of King Thutmose II," the archaeologists said.



On November 4, 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the first steps leading to Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The following February, his team opened the burial chamber and discovered a sarcophagus.

The tomb was filled with precious objects that were supposed to help the young pharaoh on his journey to the afterlife. Among the burial goods were shoes made of pure gold, figurines, and games. It took Carter 10 years to clear the tomb of treasures.



Tutankhamun was a pharaoh of the 18th dynasty and reigned from 1332 to 1323 BC. He was the son of Akhenaten and ascended the throne at the age of nine or ten. His wife was his half-sister Ankhesenpaaten. He died at the age of 19, the cause of death is unknown.