Discovery of King Thutmose II’s Tomb: A Major Breakthrough in Egyptology

In a recent BBC article, Frances Mao reports on the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first pharaoh’s tomb found in Egypt since Tutankhamun’s in 1922. The burial site was uncovered by a British-Egyptian research team in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor—an unexpected location, as scholars previously believed early 18th Dynasty royal tombs were closer to the Valley of the Kings. The tomb, though empty due to ancient flooding and relocation of its contents, features key indicators of royal status, including a blue-painted ceiling with yellow stars and decorations from the Amduat, a funerary text reserved for kings. The discovery provides new insights into burial practices and the movement of royal remains in ancient Egypt. Researchers now hope to locate the second tomb where Thutmose II’s remains were reburied, potentially revealing more about his reign and legacy.