A joint Egyptian-British expedition has unearthed the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II, marking the first royal tomb discovery since King Tutankhamun’s in 1922, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
The entrance and main corridor of the tomb were first located in 2022, initially thought to belong to a royal consort due to its proximity to the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and the wives of King Thutmose III. However, recent excavations have provided conclusive evidence that the burial site belongs to Thutmose II, the fourth ruler of Egypt’s illustrious 18th Dynasty.
Moreover, archeologists uncovered significant inscriptions and fragments of alabaster jars bearing the name of Thutmose II, confirming the tomb’s ownership. Additional inscriptions referenced his chief royal consort, Queen Hatshepsut, suggesting that she oversaw the burial arrangements for her husband and half-brother.
Among the notable discoveries were pieces of funerary furniture—marking the first-ever confirmed artifacts belonging to Thutmose II—as no such items had previously been found in museums or other archeological sites. Researchers believe that much of the tomb’s original contents were relocated in antiquity following severe flooding that damaged the burial chamber.
The excavation team revealed that the tomb was in poor condition due to water damage sustained shortly after Thutmose II’s death. Flooding caused significant structural damage, leading to the loss of much of the original plasterwork. Fragments featuring blue inscriptions, yellow star motifs, and excerpts from the Book of Amduat—a religious text commonly found in royal tombs—were recovered from the site.
The mission, which has been performing archeological surveys at the site for two years, will persist in its efforts to reveal more of the area's secrets and find the original contents' final resting place within the tomb, the ministry's statement concluded.