PICTORIAL: British Egyptologists uncover ancient Pharaoh’s tomb in Egypt

Over a century after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, British Egyptologists have made another groundbreaking find — the long-lost burial site of Pharaoh Thutmose II, a ruler of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty who lived nearly 3,500 years ago.

The tomb, identified as “C4,” was discovered approximately 2.4 km west of the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the find, finally resolving the mystery surrounding Thutmose II’s resting place.

For generations, scholars believed his tomb was located near the Valley of the Kings. However, a team led by Professor Piers Litherland from the University of Cambridge uncovered it in an unexpected location — an area previously associated with the burials of royal women.

According to the BBC on Thursday, the entrance to the tomb was first identified in 2022, but extensive excavation was required before experts could confirm that it belonged to Thutmose II. Professor Litherland, who has spent over a decade exploring the Valley of the Kings, discovered a staircase carved into the rock at the base of a cliff, leading to a grand descending corridor.

Initially, the team suspected they had found the tomb of a royal wife.

However, the large doorway and staircase suggested something far more significant. The chamber was filled with sand and limestone debris from ancient floods, delaying access to the burial site. After painstaking excavation, they finally reached the burial chamber.

Inside, they found a ceiling painted blue with yellow stars — a design reserved exclusively for pharaohs. The walls were adorned with scenes from the Amduat, an ancient religious text intended only for kings.

Additionally, fragments of alabaster jars bore inscriptions confirming Thutmose II as the “deceased king,” alongside the name of his wife, Hatshepsut.

Unlike the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, Thutmose II’s chamber contained no treasures or mummified remains. Experts believe flooding forced ancient Egyptians to relocate the pharaoh’s body to the Deir el-Bahri cache, where it was discovered in the 19th century in poor condition — his remains were damaged, and his right arm had been severed.

However, recent studies have cast doubt on the identity of the mummy. The remains are estimated to belong to a man over 30 years old, yet Thutmose II is believed to have died before reaching 30.

Scholars suggest he may have succumbed to disease, as his embalmed body showed signs of an illness that the mummification process could not erase.

Thutmose II ruled either for 13 years (1493–1479 BCE) or as little as three years (1482–1479 BCE), according to various historical estimates. He was part of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, a period often regarded as the pinnacle of Ancient Egyptian civilization. The dynasty, which lasted over 200 years (circa 1539–1292 BCE), produced legendary figures such as Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I, and Tutankhamun.