The stunning uncovering of a pharaoh ’s entombment spot last week was a bombshell in the archaeology world . Not since Howard Carter located the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun in 1922 had such a site been rule . There was only one problem : the pharaoh ’s body was n’t in the grave . Now , the archeologist who made the find believes he may have solved the case of the missing desiccated stiff .
On February 18 , the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquitiesannounceda joint Egyptian and British archeological project had uncoveredthe first tomb of Thutmose II . Located near Luxor , just a few kilometers away from the Valley of the king , the grave was found in a highly damaged state of matter , likely due to implosion therapy that occurred within six twelvemonth of the Pharaoh of Egypt ’s death . Despite the wretched preservation , the squad , precede by British archaeologist Piers Litherland , was able to identify the grave due to relics such as alabaster jars with the pharaoh ’s name on them , as well as funerary furniture .
Details of Thutmose II ’s reign are scarce , due to a dearth of archeological finds detail his convention . He likely was in power between 1493 and 1479 BCE , though his actual prison term on the throne may have been as short as three years . The National Museum of Egyptian Civilizationpegshis time on top at under five years . What is known is that he was the son of Thutmose I and one of his minor wives . He assumed top executive by marrying his half - sister Hatshepsut , who was the daughter of his dada ’s chief married woman . Families are complicated , amiright ?
The tomb of Thutmose II.© Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
daze sculpture of Egyptian Pharaohs discover in the River Nile
Despite his potential short sovereignty , he was known for several successful military military campaign , including end several uprisings in Nubia and destroying a tribe in the Sinai . He was succeeded on the crapper by his boy , Thutmose III .
As the first Egyptian royal burial billet uncovered in over 100 year , the tomb was a historical find , but an incomplete one , as Thutmose II ’s mummified corpse was nowhere to be feel . Less than a calendar week after one career - limit find , Litherland now tell he has made another — and he has intellect to believe the mummy is inside .
“ You woolgather about such things , ” hetold The Guardian . “ But like come through the lottery , you never trust it will happen to you . ”
Inside a infernal region located in the first tomb , Litherland found an lettering stating that the pharaoh ’s half - sis / wife had the contents run . Litherland said he had reason to believe the king was interred in another grave he had actually first strike in 2022 . Since then , he and his co-worker have been bet for a way at bottom , no easy feat given it ’s immerse beneath layers of rock and plaster .
“ There are 23 meters of a pile of Isle of Man - made bed sit down above a head in the landscape where we believe — and we have other confirmatory grounds — there is a monument hide beneath , ” Litherland said . “ The salutary candidate for what is hidden underneath this tremendously expensive , in condition of drive , passel is the second grave of Thutmose II . ”
gravely Gruesome Death of an Egyptian Pharaoh Detailed in New Study
The working person who retrace the tomb safeguarded it by not only paving a layer of clay plaster with ash on top , but by criticize huge Boulder onto it , which were then plastered in place .
Getting through all this safely has been a time - consuming effort , and Litherland estimated the job is midway done and could be completed in a month ’s time .
There is some disputation over what Litherland might find out once he gets within . In 1881 , the mummified body of a 30 - year - old human was initially identify as Thutmose II , but Litherland believe it ’s a case of false identity . He said historic record indicate the pharaoh came to index as a unseasoned boy . give that his reign was in all likelihood short , he probably become flat well before reaching 30 .
Here at Gizmodo , we ’re the great unwashed of science , so we ’re not go bad to say this is a bad idea . That “ Curse of the Pharaohs ” material is almost definitelyhokum , even if there were someodd deathstied to the Tutankhamun discovery . Still , just as a precaution in case Thutmose II is in this grave , does anyone recognise what Brendan Fraser has on his route next calendar month ?
Ancient EgyptArchaeologyEgyptologymummies
Daily Newsletter
Get the best technical school , skill , and culture news show in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
