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Queen Nefertiti's hidden tomb chamber found
New scans reveal hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that may hold Queen Nefertiti's remains.
In brief
New scans reveal hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that may hold Queen Nefertiti's remains. Archaeologists found evidence of a hidden chamber behind Tutankhamun's tomb that could contain Queen Nefertiti's remains, suggesting the tomb was originally built for her before being adapted for the pharaoh. Originally…
New scans reveal hidden chamber
New scans provide fresh evidence for a hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that could hold the remains of his long-lost stepmother.
“New scans provide fresh evidence for a hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that could hold the remains of his long-lost stepmother”
Hidden complex of corridors
Analysis of the tomb structure, ground around it, and wall paintings indicates a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms just meters from Tutankhamun's burial chamber.
“Analysis of the tomb structure, the ground around it and wall paintings indicate there is a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms”
Tomb may hold Nefertiti's remains
If confirmed, the hidden chamber could contain Queen Nefertiti's remains, the long-lost stepmother of Tutankhamun.
“If confirmed, the discovery could 'rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era'”
Study published in Nature
The study, first reported in Nature, involved geophysical surveys and clues from ground-penetrating radar.
“The study, first reported in Nature, involved a range of geophysical surveys and clues from ground-penetrating radar”
Hidden corridor 6.5 feet wide
Analysis indicates a 6.5 foot (two meter) wide corridor leading away from Tutankhamun's burial chamber.
“Analysis indicates a 6.5 foot (two metre) wide corridor leading away from the burial chamber”
False wall theory
Experts believe the north wall of the burial chamber is a false wall that originally held Nefertiti's remains.
“The idea that there could be a hidden chamber within the tomb containing Tutankhamun's predecessor, Nefertiti, was first proposed in 2015 by British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves”
Tomb layout suggests queen
The tomb's layout matches that of Hatshepsut, a powerful female pharaoh, not a typical male king's tomb.
“The team wrote. 'KV 62 [Tutankhamun's tomb] conforms to the architectural grammar of neither a private nor a kingly monument. The plan Tutankhamun's tomb follows is that of an Eighteenth Dynasty Queen.'”
Tomb adapted for pharaoh
Tutankhamun's tomb was originally built for Queen Nefertiti before being adapted for his burial after her death.
“The team suggest that Tutankhamun's death, barely a decade after his stepmother passed away, prompted the reopening of Nefertiti's tomb and for the outermost rooms to be repurposed as his burial chamber.”
Paintings altered for pharaoh
Experts believe some paintings were originally created for Nefertiti but altered to portray Tutankhamun after his death.
“Experts believe some of the paintings were originally created for an earlier royal, and that images of Nefertiti may have been altered to portray her son after his unexpected death”
Tomb's original purpose
The burial chamber was not designed as a tomb for Tutankhamun but as an intermediary space for Nefertiti's original burial suite.
“Close analysis confirms that the space employed as a burial chamber for Tutankhamun had not been conceived as such. It had originally played a very different, median role within a larger, ultimately regal tomb.”
One chamber closed off
One chamber appears closed off with no link to other entrances, possibly filled with objects untouched for over 3,000 years.
“One chamber in particular appears to be closed off, with no link to other entrances. The researchers said there's a chance it could be filled with objects, which may not have been touched since they were first put there more than 3,000 years ago.”
Drilling could start soon
If approved, careful drilling with tiny tractors equipped with cameras could start in the next two months.
“Any excavation or drilling would require approval from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. If approved, careful drilling to deploy tiny tractors equipped with cameras could start in the next two months.”
Tomb's architectural significance
The tomb's layout suggests it was built for a queen, not a king, challenging previous assumptions about Tutankhamun's tomb.
“The team wrote. 'KV 62 [Tutankhamun's tomb] conforms to the architectural grammar of neither a private nor a kingly monument. The plan Tutankhamun's tomb follows is that of an Eighteenth Dynasty Queen.'”
What happens next
Archaeologists plan to confirm the hidden chamber's contents through careful drilling and further surveys.
“Any excavation or drilling would require approval from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. If approved, careful drilling to deploy tiny tractors equipped with cameras could start in the next two months.”
At a glance
Archaeologists found evidence of a hidden chamber behind Tutankhamun's tomb that could contain Queen Nefertiti's remains, suggesting the tomb was originally built for her before being adapted for the pharaoh.
