British archaeologist Dr Piers Litherland has made the discovery of a lifetime in Egypt – the first tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh to be found in over 100 years. The tomb, belonging to Thutmose II, who ruled from 1493 to 1479 BC, was discovered by Dr Litherland while exploring the Valley of the Kings.
Initially, Dr Litherland and his team thought the tomb belonged to a royal wife due to debris clogging its descending corridor. However, upon seeing the ceiling’s blue-painted design with yellow stars from ancient religious text Amduat, he realized he had stumbled upon something significant.
Months were spent clearing flood debris, but it was later revealed that the tomb was deliberately emptied rather than robbed. It’s believed that the tomb was flooded due to its construction under a waterfall and filled with water within six years of Thutmose II’s burial. The remains were relocated elsewhere, but fragments of alabaster discovered later confirmed the identity of the king.
This groundbreaking discovery solves a long-standing mystery surrounding the early 18th dynasty kings’ tombs. It also raises the possibility of an intact second tomb for Thutmose II, as suggested by Mohsen Kamel, assistant field director.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/19/first-new-pharaohs-tomb-to-be-found-in-over-a-century-discovered-in-egypt