Thutmose II Tomb Discovery Solves Dynasty Mystery

The tomb of King Thutmose II, a pharaoh of Egypt's 18th dynasty, has been discovered near Luxor, marking the first unearthing of a royal tomb since Tutankhamun's discovery in 1922. The joint Egyptian-British mission identified the tomb by fragments of alabaster jars inscribed with Thutmose II's name, despite initial beliefs that it belonged to a royal wife. The tomb, located west of the Valley of the Kings, was poorly preserved due to flooding, resulting in the relocation of its original contents in ancient times. Despite the damage, significant artifacts such as funerary furniture were found, providing new insights into Thutmose II's reign. This discovery solves a long-standing mystery about the location of the last missing tomb of the 18th dynasty kings. Thutmose II was an ancestor of Tutankhamun and the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, one of Egypt's few female pharaohs.