Discovery of Thutmose II’s tomb
“When I came out, my wife was waiting outside, and the only thing I could do was burst into tears. When you come across something that you’re not expecting to find, it’s emotionally extremely turbulent, really.” Dr Piers Litherland, BBC Newshour
Photograph by the New Kingdom Research Foundation
Egypt-Museum. February 19th, 2025:
This week, archaeologists unveiled a momentous discovery—the long-lost tomb of Thutmose II, believed to be the final undiscovered royal burial site of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty. This marks the first tomb of a pharaoh uncovered since Howard Carter’s legendary discovery of Tutankhamun’s resting place in 1922.
The tomb, belonging to Thutmose II, the fourth pharaoh of the Eighteenth 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 signaling 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 his 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.
