The Big Question: The discovery of a secret tomb behind Tutankhamun's is being hailed as unique by archaeologists around the world. Have we finally found the secret lost tomb of ancient Egypt's Queen Nefertiti? But until now, numerous archaeological expeditions have failed to conclusively find any new chambers. CNN. He died with no heirs, which allowed two army generals to access the throne, Ay followed by Horemheb. Dr Zahi Hawass, 72, is currently leading the largest excavation Egypt's Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922. Nefertiti’s Tomb May Have Been Found. It gives the impression of being an antechamber, rather than a tomb fit for a king. According to the archaeologist, the tomb looks like an Egyptian queen’s tomb more than the burial space for a pharaoh due to its position to the right of the entrance shaft and the smaller size. The findings lent credence to Reeves’s theory that the king’s burial palace contained a larger, hidden tomb within. Has Nefertiti’s tomb finally been found? The Younger Lady. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. A HIDDEN chamber near the tomb of King Tutankhamen may contain the long-lost remains of his mother-in-law, Queen Nefertiti. Egyptian archaeologists announced recently they may have found the burial place of Queen Nefertiti in a hidden chamber close to the pharaoh’s burial complex in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Reeves’s astonishing hypothesis was that Queen Nefertiti’s tomb—long sought after but never found—is hidden within King Tutankhamun’s tomb, concealed for more than 3,000 years in a secret room behind a wall of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber. Renowned Archeologist, Nicholas Reeves, thinks it might be Queen Nefertiti's tomb. In the Egyptian Museum, many mummies have been scanned and identified during the Egyptian Mummy Project. 1923. The Queen’s tomb has never been discovered but Dr Hawass suggested in 2019 Nefertiti’s body may have already been found. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Chests inside the treasury, ca.1923. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, An assortment of model boats in the treasury of the tomb, ca. Express. Dr Reeves suggests that it was built as an extension to another tomb perhaps belonging to Queen Nefertiti. For Egyptologists today, finding Nefertiti’s mummy would be just as important as the discovery of Tut’s tomb. In his paper, Reeves suggests this might be because it was originally designed for Tut's stepmother, Nefertiti, whose tomb has never been found. Queen Nefertiti tomb: Egypt 'will not allow Tutankhamun tomb to be damaged' in hunt for secret chamber. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, A gilded lion bed and inlaid clothes chest among other objects in the antechamber, December 1922. Create a commenting name to join the debate, There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts, There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Akhenaten and Nefertiti at the Great State Window of their palace. Now, a radical new theory may provide the … Washington DC, District of Columbia 38 contributions 23 helpful votes. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, In a "laboratory" set up in the tomb of Sethos II, conservators Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas clean one of the sentinel statues from the antechamber, January 1924. The unknown height of about 2 meters and a length of 10 meters, is alleged to be the tomb of the very Queen Nefertiti has still not been found. This could be an extraordinary discovery: not only the fact that there may well be precious objects, unseen creations and lengthy texts, but mostly because this is an unique opportunity to understand the way Egyptians managed their death. There is also some scepticism from Egyptian officials, such as former antiquities minister Zahi Hawass. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker wrap one of the sentinel statues for transport, 29th November 1923. During his reign, she had a major role in the new religion and possibly too in the governing of the country. see also: The Young king Tutankhamun, who was popularly called by the Institute, was the son of king Akhenaten, and when Nefertiti was the wife of Pharaoh, she automatically began to be the stepmother of Tutankhamun. The boy pharaoh rose to power between the age of eight and nine but died before the age of 20. A HIDDEN chamber near the tomb of King Tutankhamen may contain the long-lost remains of his mother-in-law, Queen Nefertiti. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Ornately carved alabaster vases in the antechamber, December 1922. This means that a lot of it seems unique. King Tutankhamun’s reign may have been short-lived but the Pharaoh’s discovery in 1922 has captured the world’s imagination. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. The ancient Egyptian royal’s place of burial has been a mystery for decades. The famous golden head mask exposed in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo is one of the most impressive pieces of its funerary goods, but the wooden panels and statues are just as unique in their designs. Like Nefertiti, the location of her tomb remains a mystery. Using ground-penetrating radar (radiating electromagnetic pulses into a surface then analysing the type of response), a team composed of the Egyptian minister and various specialists performed a scan of the walls of the burial chamber and treasury of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Egyptologists have been unable to locate the tomb of Nefertiti during years of research after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. Mar 20, 2016 - Egyptian Antiquities Minister said there is a 90% chance that King Tutankhamun tomb contains two hidden chambers. A search for pharaonic Queen Nefertiti's resting place finds possible "organic material" inside spaces behind walls in Tutankhamun's tomb, Egypt says. Aug 22, 2015 - British archaeologist believes he may have discovered the final resting place of Queen Nefertiti More information Has the tomb of Nefertiti finally been found? Dr Hawass said extensive DNA testing could reveal them to be Queen Nefertiti and her daughter Queen Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife. Experts have long believed that the coffins of Tutankhamun and Nefertiti buried together. But as ancient Egyptian society fit a very clear hierarchy, we can expect the actions of those at the top to be reflected on those at the base of the pyramid. The final resting place of Nefertiti, who served as queen alongside Pharaoh Akhenaten over 3,000 years ago, is one of Egypt’s greatest mysteries. Reeves claims the artwork found inside King Tut's tomb are similar to artworks found elsewhere depicting the boy king and Nefertiti. The Nefertiti bust is pictured during a press preview of the exhibition 'In The Light Of Amarna' to mark the 100 years of the Nefertiti bust discovery at the Neues Museum (New Museum) in Berlin, on December 5, 2012, Carter and a worker examine the solid gold innermost sarcophagus, October 1925. Secret chamber found inside King Tut's famous tomb may solve hunt ... Egyptologists are on the verge of solving one of history's biggest mysteries — the location of Queen Nefertiti's elusive tomb. She is one of the most famous women of ancient Egypt. Despite being one of the most famous ancient Egyptian queens, the location of Nefertiti's tomb remains a mystery to researchers. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Carter, Mace and an Egyptian worker carefully roll up the linen pall covering the second shrine, 30th October 1923. Tutankhamun was the eleventh king of the 18th dynasty (16th – 13th century BCE), who reigned for nine years and died when he was approximately 18 years old. Queen Nefertiti has all through the ages continued to capture our imaginations. From all the currently known mummies, none match the age and physique of Nefertiti. The Tomb of Nefertiti. newspaper archive. Egyptian archaeologists announced recently they may have found the burial place of Queen Nefertiti in a hidden chamber close to the pharaoh’s burial complex in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. That's because Dr Nicholas Reeves, an eminent Egyptologist and former director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, published a paper demonstrating how behind the walls of this small tomb, there were more rooms as demonstrated by thin cracks in the decorative paintings. This means that they were intentionally created and carefully concealed, with access plastered over and then decorated to hide it from view. Some rooms of the tomb remain walled up. The findings lent credence to Reeves’s theory that the king’s burial palace contained a … Even better than Abu Simbel. DNA evidence suggests that Nefertiti’s mummy may already have been discovered—among several mummies found in 1898—and may now be reposing in Cairo’s Egyptian Museum—but this has not been confirmed. Love letters at Nefertari Tomb. The place of her burial has not yet been found… Egyptologist Ryan Johnson from the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the discovery, told Nature the data is “tremendously exciting”. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most low-key discovery would be the beginning of halls extending the tomb further than its actual plan, in which offerings had been made. After the break from orthodoxy of the Amarna period, Tutankhamun and his successors resumed the ancient form of the religion and started extensive temple constructions in the country. The search for Nefertiti “My feeling is this is a tomb, originally made for a queen, which was adapted for the burial of a queen who had become a pharaoh,” says Reeves. The archaeologist led an excavation in the Valley of the Kings that uncovered the bodies of two female mummies. SuchIsLifeDC wrote a review Mar 2020. A leading Egyptian archaeologist has revealed that the tomb of Queen Nefertiti – Tutankhamun's step-mother – could be found within days. He said: “Using modern DNA techniques, we are exhuming the two female mummies found in KV21 because one of them, the headless one, might possibly be Ankhesenamun due to the preliminary studies. Nefertiti’s Tomb May Have Been Found In February 2020, a study published in the journal Nature detailed a promising ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey around King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Nov 29, 2015 - An intriguing new hypothesis is the talk of archaeologists and historians in Egypt and around the world: Does King Tut’s tomb contain Queen Nefertiti’s crypt? The nation has been in turmoil since the Arab Spring protests of 2011. They were so well hidden that they lay undiscovered for nearly a century after the first opening of the tomb. Neferititi is, therefore, a likely candidate for the hidden chamber - particularly as she died before Tutankhamun. Nefertiti was the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (later Akhenaten), and mother-in-law of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen. Evidently, the individuals like Tutankhamun buried in the Valley of the Kings were mostly of royal birth or closely related to it. Aug 13, 2015 - A British archaeologist believes ancient Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti may be buried behind a secret door inside of King Tut’s tomb. One major problem of this theory is that neither Ay or his wife Tey are explicitly called the father and mother of Nefertiti in existing sources. Coronavirus prophecy: Was the deadly plague predicted by the Bible? Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Carter, Callender and two Egyptian workers carefully dismantle one of the golden shrines within the burial chamber, December 1923. However, archaeologists have not yet determined whether the cavity is indeed a new burial chamber or part of another tomb. Nefertiti's name, Egyptian Nfr.t-jy.tj, can be translated as "The Beautiful Woman has Come". Modern reconstruction efforts show the Pharaoh suffered from many illnesses in his life paired with physical disabilities and spinal problems. Upgrading from these finds, it could be that these rooms contain more of Tutankhamun’s funerary goods. released on the 17 March 2016 by Dr Mahmoud Eldamaty. The former minister is also on the hunt for Queen Nefertiti, searching for hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings. ... Another theory is that Nefertiti's mummy was already found, the so-called Younger Lady who was recently identified as Tutankhamun's mother through genetic testing. As Nefertiti's tomb was never completed and was found in the valley of the kings, the location of Nefertiti's body has long been a subject of curiosity and speculation. This is possible, but until further exploration is made we should be cautious. Who is the mysterious Queen who might be hiding in Tutankhamun's tomb? Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, A gilded bust of the Celestial Cow Mehet-Weret and chests sit in the treasury of the tomb, ca.1923. Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten, a Pharaoh who ruled for 17 years before his death. It could also be the final resting place of a major court official whose tomb was "borrowed" for Tutankhamun’s impromptu death. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}, Discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb - in colour. He believes she is one of the two female mummies found in the Valley of the Queens. It has been suggested that it contains the burial of another royal member of the family. Queen Nefertiti: Has the tomb of Tutankhamun's mother been found A diagram of Nefertiti's possible resting place. The new findings suggest there is a space directly behind King Tut’s tomb, measuring about 6.5ft by 32ft (2m by 10m). Two secret doorways may exist coming from the walls of the main chamber. That's the shock claim made by scientists after they found … The list of ancient Egyptian kings, as we know it today, is a work in progress—a compilation made by modern scholars and based on found fragments. Cambridge Egyptologist Kimberley Watt explains what's been found - and why we should all be excited, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. But he says … Archaeologists used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to revel a previously unknown cavity behind King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tutankhamen by Christiane Desroches Noblecourt, page 144. READ MORE: 'Real cause' of Noah’s flood calculated by Isaac Newton 400 years ago. Symbols and signs pointing towards Queen Nefertiti all baffled experts as they research the tomb more and more in hopes of getting to the bottom of this mystery. She was the main consort of Pharaoh Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV), who reigned from approximately 1353 to 1336 BC. August 12, 2015 10:43 am. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Carter examines Tutankhamun's sarcophagus, October 1925. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, A statue of Anubis on a shrine with pallbearers' poles in the treasury of the tomb, ca.1923. Have we finally found the secret lost tomb of Egypt's Queen Nefertiti? [INTERVIEW]USGS reveals what would happen if Yellowstone volcano erupted [INSIGHT]Before and After pics show horror of Antarctica ice melt [PICTURES]. But the minister was not so sure that Nefertiti’s tomb would be discovered. In August 2015, British archeologist Nicholas Reeves announced that archaeologists could be on the brink of discovering Queen Nefertiti after he found wall markings in King Tut’s tomb indicating the presence of a hidden doorway that may lead to another room. EGYPT archaeologist Dr Chris Naunton has told Express.co.uk that there is a possibility of discovering Queen Nefertiti after an anomaly was found during a scan near Tutankhamun's tomb. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and Douglas Berry, and surprisingly seemed to have gone unnoticed by past and recent tomb robbers. No trace has been found of the legendary "beautiful one" who ruled across Egypt at her husband's side... until, possibly, now. Nefertiti has continued to capture our collective imagination throughout the ages. Overall the tomb is one of my favorite places I visited in Egypt. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Inside the outermost shrine in the burial chamber, a huge linen pall with gold rosettes, reminiscent of the night sky, covers the smaller shrines within, December 1923. USGS reveals what would happen if Yellowstone volcano erupted, Before and After pics show horror of Antarctica ice melt, Archaeology: Discovery of 'smiting gods' in rubble of ancient temple, ‘Heart stopping moment’ as archaeologists open Egyptian sarcophagus, 'Spectacular' ancient Neanderthal found in 'burial site'. A hidden cell was discovered in the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, which may be the resting place of his mother, Queen Nefertiti. No trace has been found of the legendary "beautiful one" who ruled across Egypt at her husband's side… until, possibly, now. Share. If so, then Tut’s tomb was never originally his. The Queen’s tomb has never been discovered but Dr Hawass suggested in 2019 Nefertiti’s body may have already been found. DNA analyses indicate that he was the son of Akhenaten, the previous king, and of Akhenaten’s sister, a royal concubine. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? Queen Nefertiti: If the tomb of Tutankhamun's mother has been found, what other ancient mysteries are there to discover? Date of experience: January 2020. For years, there has been a controversial theory about the famous 3,300-year-old tomb of King Tutankhamun: Queen Nefertiti’s remains are contained just beyond its walls. Have we finally found the secret lost tomb of ancient Egypt's Queen Nefertiti? An American archaeologist believes he may have found the long-lost tomb of Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti. This article is more than 5 years old . The results of previous radar surveys have found evidence of the existence of spaces and organic material behind the walls of the cemetery, said Amin, adding that he believes a chemistry professor will be needed to take part in the analysis of the radar survey results. Many believe she held as much power as the pharaoh himself. Jesus Christ proof: Does this First century text prove the existence? Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. High resolution scans of Tutankhamun's tomb have revealed hidden chambers where archaeologist Nicholas Reeves believes Queen Nefertiti's remains could be. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. In Egypt, thanks to the dry climate, human and organic remains are extremely well preserved. It is possible the mummy of Akhenaten himself may be among those for which the lack of contextualised information renders identification complex. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? The search for Nefertiti’s tomb goes back several years, and it has always proved to be elusive. Nefertiti has continued to capture our collective imagination throughout the ages. They’re asking about Nefertiti, the legendary beauty who was married to one of ancient Egypt’s strangest pharaohs. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, A ceremonial bed in the shape of the Celestial Cow, surrounded by provisions and other objects in the antechamber of the tomb, December 1922. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Arthur Mace and Alfred Lucas work on a golden chariot from Tutankhamun's tomb outside the "laboratory" in the tomb of Sethos II, December 1923. On the left are the royal princesses and a plan of the palace (Tomb of Pernefer). Further examination of the resulting data indicates that there are organic and metallic remains behind each of these voids. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, We will need to adapt the data slightly to understand the common people - but the archaeological evidences hidden here will build on our understanding and knowledge of a whole civilisation which started more than 5,000 years ago. The tomb tells the never before heard story of Queen Nefertiti, her followers, and the queen’s husband. Is it the queen? Dr Hawass said GPR has “never made any discovery at any site in Egypt”. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. 7 Jul, 2019 02:38 AM 5 minutes to read. Artists secretly scan Queen Nefertiti bust and recreate using data, Tutankhamun tomb 'must not be damaged' in hunt for secret chamber, Tutankhamun's golden face mask 'was actually made for his mother', You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Clearly there is something on the other side of the north wall of the burial chamber. ARCHAEOLOGISTS have found a secret chamber behind the tomb of King Tutankhamun that could hold the remains of his mother-in-law, Queen Nefertiti. In February 2020, a study published in the journal Nature detailed a promising ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey around King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Pompeii: New discovery proves eruption date wrong, Ancient Egypt: Archaeologists may have found the burial chamber of Queen Nefertiti, Ancient Egypt: The most incredible archaeological sites of interest, End of the world claim: Jerusalem third temple fulfils Bible prophecy. Reeves believes that one tomb is another storage room, but the other is the tomb of Tut’s stepmother, Nefertiti. The wall of the burial chamber is guarded by statues, december 1922. order back issues and use the historic Daily Express These scans indeed indicate that there are openings behind the West and North walls of the burial chamber. Read more. Two secret doorways may exist coming from the walls of the main chamber. It was July of last year when British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves announced his hypothesis that stunned scholars of the ancient world. A New Tomb From 10,000 BC Discovered in turkey – Amazing connection with queen Nefertiti. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. Tomb of Nefertiti, Egypt's mysterious ancient queen, may have been found. Image courtesy of Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, colourised by Dynamichrome, Howard Carter, Arthur Callender and an Egyptian worker open the doors of the innermost shrine and get their first look at Tutankhamun's sarcophagus, 4th January 1924. It is one of the most beautiful places I saw in Egypt. Theories on the tomb's location have gripped archaeologists' attention Nefertiti ruled the country in 1353-1336 BC. DON’T MISSIs the UK prepared for an incoming asteroid impact? 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