Egypt’s Greatest Discovery Since Tutankhamun? The Search for Thutmose II

By Laura Ranieri Roy

Could an Undisturbed Tomb of an Egyptian King Finally Be Found?

Could the untouched tomb of a great Egyptian king, complete with treasures and an intact mummy, finally be uncovered? Could Thutmose II—the sickly husband of Hatshepsut and father of Egypt’s “Napoleon,” Thutmose III—finally be discovered? Or is this yet another overhyped claim?

Time will tell. But if British archaeologist Piers Litherland achieves his dream, the near impossible will come to pass: the mortal remains and treasures of this 18th Dynasty king may dazzle the world. If confirmed, this would be the first undiscovered royal tomb found since Howard Carter’s legendary discovery of Tutankhamun—more than a century ago. Exciting news, no doubt. But let’s examine what we truly know.

The Thutmose II Tomb Discovery: Facts as of February 27, 2025

• February 18 Announcement: Archaeologists revealed the discovery of a tomb believed to belong to Thutmose II near Luxor, marking the first royal burial found in over a century. Located 3 km outside the Valley of the Kings in the Western Valley—near an area associated with the king’s wives—the tomb featured a decorated burial chamber with a blue ceiling adorned with yellow stars, confirming it as a royal tomb. Lead archaeologist Litherland first identified this site in 2022 but only announced the excavation now.
• Who Was Thutmose II? A pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty (possibly ruling 1493–1479 BC), Thutmose II was the son of the great warrior king Thutmose I. He died young, leaving little historical record beyond fathering Thutmose III—one of Egypt’s greatest rulers. His newly discovered tomb was badly damaged by flooding, and his remains were missing. However, broken alabaster, relief fragments, and evidence of the king’s cartouche linked the tomb to him.

 

A Second, Undisturbed Tomb?

Just one week after the initial discovery, the joint Egyptian-British team made an even more intriguing claim: a possible second, undisturbed tomb of Thutmose II hidden beneath 23 metres of rubble. This site was deliberately concealed by the ancient Egyptians, leading experts to suspect Thutmose II’s burial may have been relocated here after his original tomb was compromised.

Key evidence for this second tomb:

• Lies beneath a 23-metre (75 ft) man-made pile of limestone, ash, rubble, and mud plaster.
• Constructed to blend seamlessly into the natural mountain.
• Posthumous inscriptions suggest his wife, Hatshepsut, may have moved his burial to a secret location.

Could this truly be an untouched royal tomb? The possibility is tantalizing.

• 

  Image credit: Royal Mummies Catalog: Zahi Hawass

• 

  Image credit: Royal Mummies Catalog: Zahi Hawass

• 

  Image: Wikipedia

But What About the Thutmose II Mummy in the Museum?

A mummy believed to be Thutmose II was discovered in 1881 in the DB320 Deir el-Bahari Cachette. During the decline of the New Kingdom (~1100 BCE), priests hid the bodies of kings to protect them from rampant tomb robbing. Today, this mummy resides at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC).

However, Litherland questions whether this mummy is actually Thutmose II. His argument:

• The DB320 mummy, labeled “Aa-en-re,” was identified as Thutmose II simply because his regnal name was “Aa-kheper-en-re.”
• This mummy has consistently been estimated to have died around age 30 – the real Thutmosis II may have been younger.
• No funerary items bearing Thutmose II’s name have ever been found.

If the newly discovered tomb contains an actual mummy, and the DB320 mummy is not Thutmose II—then who is he? This unidentified king displays the crossed arms of royalty and the distinctive Thutmosid facial features, including a slight overbite. Is this Thutmosis I – or a relative? One can speculate – but it would be a great mystery to solve.

What’s Next?

Due to site instability around the discovery of this second tomb, the excavation team is proceeding manually. Will they penetrate inside the tomb before spring? Litherland hopes so.

But we’ve heard similar promises before. Reports of imminent discoveries of Nefertiti and Cleopatra’s tombs have surfaced time and again—yet both queens remain elusive. If an intact royal tomb with a mummy and treasures does emerge, I will be the first to celebrate. Carter himself would surely raise a ghostly toast to his fellow British archaeologist.

For now, though, all we have is a washed-out tomb, a few broken artifacts, and the possibility of another burial under mounds of debris. Let’s wait cautiously. Egypt is already delivering plenty of excitement—between the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the restoration of countless historic sites, there’s no shortage of discoveries to celebrate.

Thinking of a trip to Egypt? Join us on an exquisite and enriched two-week expert-led tour in 2025 or 2026

• Pyramids & Temples Alive Tour (October 27–November 7, 2025): A journey through Egypt’s must-see sites, including a Nile cruise.
  Read all about it here https://ancientegyptalive.com/pyramids-and-temples-alive-25-7-2025/
• NEWLY LAUNCHED: Egypt Grand Tour (March 22–April 4, 2026): A rare, small-group adventure through Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Middle Egypt (Amarna), and a 4-night Nile cruise.
  Learn more https://ancientegyptalive.com/egyptgrandtour-with-laura-ranieri-roy-march-22-apr-4-2026/

• 

  Me and Hatshepsut, widow of Thutmose II (Egyptian Museum)

• 

  Carter and Carnarvon opening the Burial Chamber in 1923 image: The Griffith Institute