Discovery of Thutmose II’s tomb

Egypt-Museum. February 19th, 2025:

This week, archaeologists unveiled a momentous discovery—the long-lost tomb of Thutmose II of Ancient Egypt’s 18th Dynasty.

The tomb, belonging to Thutmose II, the fourth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty and husband of the famed female ruler Hatshepsut, was unearthed by a British-Egyptian team led by Dr. Piers Litherland of Galashiels, Scotland. The grandeur of the burial site was immediately evident, with a vast staircase and an imposing descending corridor signalling the tomb’s royal significance.

“And part of the ceiling was still intact – a blue-painted ceiling with yellow stars on it. And blue-painted ceilings with yellow stars are only found in king’s tombs,“- Dr Piers Litherland, an honorary research associate of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at Cambridge University and the field director of the exploration, BBC Newshour

Accessing the burial chamber proved challenging. The team crawled through a narrow, 10-metre passageway, squeezing through an opening scarcely 40 square centimetres wide before reaching the inner chamber. Inside, they encountered a striking blue ceiling adorned with scenes from the Amduat, an ancient funerary text reserved exclusively for kings—confirmation that they had indeed entered the resting place of a pharaoh.

Definitive proof of Thutmose II’s burial came in the form of alabaster jar fragments inscribed with his name and that of Hatshepsut, marking the first objects ever linked to his interment. However, Dr. Litherland’s team theorizes that the tomb may have been flooded approximately six years after the burial, possibly prompting the relocation of its contents. The researchers believe they have identified a likely site for this secondary tomb, which may still contain untouched treasures.

“This discovery solves a great mystery of Ancient Egypt – the location of the tombs of the early XVIIIth dynasty kings. The tomb of this ancestor of Tutankhamun had never been found because it was always thought to be at the other end of the mountain near the Valley of the Kings. Initially we thought we might have found the tomb of a royal wife, but the wide staircase and the large doorway suggested something more important. The discovery that the burial chamber had been decorated with scenes from the Amduat, a religious text which is reserved for kings, was immensely exciting and was the first indication that this was a king’s tomb.” – Dr Piers Litherland

This discovery crowns more than 12 years of meticulous work by the joint team from Dr. Litherland’s New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Their efforts have previously led to the excavation of 54 tombs in Luxor’s western Theban mountain and the identification of over 30 royal wives and court women.

“This is the first royal tomb to be discovered since the groundbreaking find of King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922,” remarked Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy. “It is an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and a profound step in our understanding of humanity’s shared past.”

Thutmose II

Thutmose II ascended the throne of Egypt around 1493 B.C., yet his reign, when measured against the grandeur of his predecessors and successors, was a modest one. Born to Thutmose I and his secondary wife, Mutnofret, he solidified his position by wedding his half-sister, Hatshepsut, the esteemed daughter of Thutmose I and his Great Royal Wife, Ahmose. His rule was marked by minor military excursions, quelling disturbances in Nubia and the Sinai, but it left behind little in the way of enduring triumphs. His life was cut short around 1479 B.C., leaving behind a young heir, Thutmose III, born to his lesser wife, Iset, and a daughter, Neferure, by Hatshepsut.

The precise circumstances surrounding the death of Thutmose II remain shrouded in mystery, though it is widely believed that he perished not by battle or nefarious circumstance, but likely by natural causes and disease. His reign was brief, and evidence suggests he was of frail constitution, possibly plagued by a lingering illness that drained his vitality.

Examinations of what is believed to be Thutmose II’s mummified remains, discovered within the Deir el-Bahari Royal Cache (DB320) hint at a body weakened by malady, with some scholars proposing that he suffered from a chronic skin disorder, an infectious ailment, or even a hereditary affliction, thought to be the consequence of generations of royal intermarriage. Whatever the cause, his untimely demise around 1479 B.C.

With his passing, Hatshepsut first served as regent for the infant king, yet in time, she seized the throne for herself, boldly declaring her own divine right to rule. Many scholars suggest she found her late husband’s reign lacklustre, prompting her to forge a far more illustrious legacy. As one of history’s most formidable female pharaohs, she devoted herself to monumental architectural endeavours, the most celebrated of which was her resplendent mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari – a masterpiece of design, and today a tourist hotspot which continues to proclaim her majesty for eternity.

Though officially a widow, whispers of a profound bond between Hatshepsut and her trusted advisor, Senenmut, have long intrigued historians. He wielded great influence within her court, overseeing many of her grand projects, and his depictions in proximity to her daughter, Neferure, suggest a role that transcended mere servitude. Whether love, loyalty, or ambition bound them together, his presence in her reign remains an enduring enigma of Egypt’s golden age.

Thutmose II, though his reign brief, carved a notable legacy in the annals of Ancient Egyptian history. As Pharaoh, he solidified Egypt’s power and influence, especially through his military campaigns in Nubia, which extended the empire’s borders. While his rule lacked the monumental construction projects of his predecessors, Thutmose II laid the groundwork for the grand achievements of his successors, most notably his son Thutmose III. His reign, though overshadowed by that of his famous offspring and widower, nonetheless contributed to the enduring prosperity of the Eighteenth Dynasty, blending military prowess with a steady administration.

It has often been claimed that this is the first royal tomb unearthed since Howard Carter’s legendary unveiling of Tutankhamun’s resting place in 1922. However, this assertion is not entirely accurate. Several royal tombs and kingly burials have, in fact, been discovered since Tutankhamun’s. Notable among these are the 2017 unearthing of the burial chamber belonging to a 13th Dynasty princess named Hatshepsut at the Pyramid of Dahshur, as well as the royal tombs of Tanis, which brought to light the so-called Silver Pharaohs, including Psusennes I.

Is there more to behold?

Speaking with the British publication The Observer, Scottish archaeologist Piers Litherland suspects he may have identified a second tomb belonging to Thutmose II.

February 23rd 2025:

Just days ago, the announcement of the discovery of Thutmose II’s tomb was announced. After over a decade of work by the
New Kingdom Research Foundation and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, it was in 2022 when the team led by Scottish archaeologist Dr. Litherland, finally came to the site of the tomb they had been searching for.

Discovered 3km west of the Valley of the Kings, and underneath a Theban Mountain waterfall, Litherland and his team, unearthed the debris filled and once flooded tomb of king Thutmose II, which is believed to have been emptied in antiquity, just six years after the pharaoh’s death and burial in 1479 B.C.

Yet, this discovery is but the beginning. Dr. Litherland has shared his compelling theory about what further treasures may lie hidden, awaiting the dedicated efforts of his team in the days to come.

“There are 23 metres of a pile of man-made layers sitting above a point in the landscape where we believe – and we have other confirmatory evidence – there is a monument concealed beneath,” Litherland told The Observer, he continued; “The best candidate for what is hidden underneath this enormously expensive, in terms of effort, pile is the second tomb of Thutmose II.”

Dr. Litherland revealed to The Observer, that for a year or so, he and his team have been diligently working to penetrate the thick strata of plaster and limestone, in hopes of uncovering the long-lost second tomb of Thutmose II. With unshakable conviction, Dr. Litherland believes that something, most notably the elusive second tomb of Thutmose II, lies hidden beyond these formidable layers, which preliminary evidence strongly suggests were intentionally constructed by human hands. He describes the layers—composed of mud plaster and tufa (a crumbly limestone)—as being “the size of a dining room table,” and asserts with certainty that they were crafted by Ancient Egyptian laborers. “Among the ash, we discovered the remnants of beer jars and the tips of chisels used by tomb builders,” he explains, “leaving no doubt that these layers are indeed the work of man.”

Dr. Litherland explains why additional steps were taken by the Ancient Egyptian workmen, which is currently what is slowing down the progress on the dig. According to Litherland, the workmen seem to have, “levered large portions of the cliff and made them crash down on top”. He went on to say that these pieces,“some as large as a car” were then “cemented in place using limestone plaster.” Sharing insight into the treachourus endevour the team have faced, Dr. Litherland then revealed, “We’ve tried to tunnel into it, we’ve tried to shave away the sides, but there are overhanging rocks, so it’s too dangerous,”

Three weeks ago, Dr. Litherland’s foreman Mohamed Sayed Ahmed, alongside his archaeological director, Mohsen Kamel, made the challenging decision to dismantle the entire structure which currently protrudes from the cliff. It is said they are currently approximately halfway through the process, “We anticipate completing the removal in about a month’s time,” Litherland remarked.

Why would Thutmose II require a second tomb?

The tomb of Thutmose II, discovered by Dr. Litherland and his team, as previously mentioned, was constructed underneath a waterfall of the Theban Mountain. To safeguard the tomb from the encroaching water, evidence suggests, the workmen applied layers of plaster and limestone flakes, thus shielding the tomb while simultaneously sealing and concealing the site from potential robbers.

Dr. Litherland explained to the media, that after crawling through a 35ft passageway with an only 15 inch gap at the top, the team came to the burial chamber, yet he was not at all surprised to discover that the chamber was desolate, “… [it] turned out to be completely empty. Not because it was robbed but because it had been deliberately emptied”, Litherland continued,“the tomb is situated in a poorly-chosen place beneath two waterfalls and at the bottom of a slope down which water would have (and did) pour in the much wetter weather of the 18th dynasty,”.

Such a finding, or lackthereof may be disapointing for some, alas, it only led more credence to Dr. Litherland’s theory that the tomb had been purposely emptied and the king was placed elsewhere – a place Dr. Litherland believes he knows where.

Dr. Litherland believes it likely that both of king Thutmose II’s tombs were designed by the renowned 18th Dynasty architect Ineni, who, in his tomb (TT81) biography, recounts his life and mentions that he had;

“excavated the high tomb of His Majesty, unseen and unheard by all,” while having to cope with “a most serious dilemma”.

Dr. Litherland speculates and shares his theory of Ineni taking it upon himself to build the king a second tomb in order to protect his late ruler and give the eternal rest to the king, of which Ineni may have felt he failed in providing. With the flooding of Thutmose II’s original tomb, Dr. Litherland theorises that Ineni felt compelled to right the wrong;“If Ineni was perceived as a failure for not providing what was expected—a secure final resting place for a king who, upon death, ascended as a god—he might have been in a state of considerable distress, determined to ensure that the second tomb would not suffer the same fate.” Litherland continues, “Ineni says in his biographies that he did a lot of clever things to hide the locations of tombs, including covering the tombs with layers of mud plaster, which he says has never been done before. This has not been remarked on ever, to my knowledge”.

So, who is the mummy currently identified as Thutmose II?

Considering the lack of grave goods from king Thutmose II’s reign, it is safe to presume that, if a second tomb of the king exists, that it may just be filled with items left in tribute to send the king off on his way happily to the Afterlife. And if that is so, therefore it is likely that a mummy of the king may exist within the tomb too.

Dr. Litherland believes that should the second tomb of Thutmose II be discovered, it is more than likely that the mummified body of the king should be still at rest within his safely sealed chamber. This leads us to wonder, who is the mummy idenfitied with Thutmose II, that was discovered in the Royal Cache of Deir el-Bahari in 1881?


It is generally accepted that Thutmose II reigned for approximately 13 years, ascending to the throne at a young age, likely around 18. His reign, relatively brief, ended with his death at around the age of 30. Litherland believes the body currently idenfitied as or better yet associated with Thutmose II is far too old to have been the king. He tells The Observer that, “He [Thutmose II] is described in Ineni’s biography as coming to the throne ‘the falcon in the nest’ – so he was a young boy”.

Until the excavations progress further, we can only speculate and have fun sharing our theories and views until we discover what the future holds. Right now, to say the least, it is a very exciting time for Egyptology.

We here at Egypt-Museum.com would like to congratulate the team and Dr. Litherland for such hard work that brings joy and education to millions across the world. Archaeologists can rewrite history with one find, and let’s hope we continue to discover new and “wonderful things” about our ancient past.