New royal Egyptian tomb discovered; first in 100 years

A significant discovery from the ancient Egyptian world was announced this week. 

A Egyptian-British archeological team discovered the first royal tomb in more than 100 years, since the discovery of the famed King Tutankhamun’s tomb. 

New Egyptian royal tomb discovered 

The backstory:

The entrance and main corridor to the tomb was first discovered in October of 2022, and archeologists first thought it might be a tomb of a pharaoh’s wife. 

Certain items and inscriptions later discovered inside the tomb confirmed the burial site belonged to King Tatmas II, the last missing tomb of the kings of the Eighteenth Dynasty in Egypt, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said Tuesday. 

What They Found:

Some of the items of discovery noted by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities included: 

• Alabaster utensils with the name of King Tatmas II as the "Deceased King"
• Remnants of plaster featuring blue inscriptions
• Yellow star motifs
• Portions of the Book of Amduat, a key religious text associated with royal tombs of ancient Egypt

The Location:

The tomb was found west of the famed city of Luxor, which is about 400 miles south of Cairo, and about a mile and a half west of the Valley of the Kings. 

The Valley of the Kings was part of the ancient city of Thebes and contains the burial site of almost all of the ancient pharaohs. 

What they're saying:

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Archaeological Council described this discovery as one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent years.

Big picture view:

Burial sites and the mummified remains of ancient pharaohs and queens are part of Egypt’s rich heritage, which draws in tourists from around the world. Tourism is a major economic driver for the country.