Lost Tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II Discovered Near Luxor!
An Egyptian-British archaeological team has made an extraordinary discovery—the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II, a lesser-known ruler of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. Located in the Western Wadis near Luxor, this significant find was made possible through the collaboration between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the New Kingdom Research Foundation at the University of Cambridge. Originally believed to belong to a royal consort, Tomb C4 has now been confirmed as the final resting place of Thutmose II himself.
Photo Credit: New Kingdom Research Foundation
A Historic Discovery
In October 2022, archaeologists uncovered the tomb’s entrance and main corridor in Wadi Gabbanat el-Qurud, approximately 2.4 kilometres west of the Valley of the Kings. Initially, its proximity to the burial sites of Thutmose III’s wives and Queen Hatshepsut led experts to believe it might belong to a queen. However, as excavations continued, inscriptions on alabaster vessels within the tomb revealed its true owner—Thutmose II.
Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasised the importance of this find, stating that the inscriptions confirmed Thutmose II as the “deceased king” and referenced his wife, Hatshepsut. “This discovery is one of the most significant archaeological finds in recent years,” Dr Khaled said. He also highlighted that no funeral furniture linked to Thutmose II had ever been found in any museum worldwide, making this an invaluable contribution to Egyptology.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Who Was Thutmose II?
Thutmose II was the son of Thutmose I and his lesser wife, Mutnofret. His reign was relatively short, and many historians believe that his half-sister and wife, Hatshepsut, held much of the real power during his rule. Following his death, Hatshepsut assumed the title of pharaoh, even inscribing her own name on several of his monuments. This discovery sheds new light on a ruler often overshadowed by his formidable wife.
Challenges and Preservation Efforts
Professor Mohamed Abdel-Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector and co-leader of the mission, noted that the tomb had suffered extensive damage due to ancient floods. Water seeped into the structure shortly after Thutmose II’s burial, leading to significant structural deterioration. Despite this, the excavation team has successfully recovered and restored fallen plaster fragments. Some of these fragments bear blue inscriptions, yellow stars, and passages from the Book of the Amduat, a crucial funerary text found in royal tombs. The tomb’s design and decorative elements suggest it influenced later pharaonic tombs of the 18th Dynasty.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Architectural Insights
Dr Piers Litherland, leading the British team on the project, described the tomb’s simple yet significant architectural design. A passageway leads to the burial chamber, which is positioned 1.4 metres higher than the corridor’s floor. This height difference likely helped protect some of the tomb’s contents after the flood. Historically, the remains of Thutmose II were later transferred to the Royal Cache (TT320) near Deir el-Bahari, where he was reburied alongside other rulers of the 18th and 19th Dynasties. His mummy was rediscovered in the 19th century.
A Milestone in Archaeology
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, commended the excavation team for their remarkable efforts. He highlighted the significance of this discovery, noting that this is the first time a royal tomb has been found since Howard Carter unearthed King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922.
This remarkable find not only deepens our understanding of Egypt’s royal history but also reinforces the importance of ongoing archaeological work in unearthing the secrets of the past. With further analysis and restoration, the tomb of Thutmose II may yet reveal even more about this enigmatic pharaoh and the world he inhabited.