Was Nefertiti Buried Behind Secret Doorways?

Via news.sky.com

The final resting place of Egypt's Queen Nefertiti may lie beyond two hidden doorways inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun.

English archaeologist Dr Nicholas Reeves, from the University of Arizona, claims to have uncovered evidence of bricked-up passageways which could lead to Nefertiti's burial chamber.

If Dr Reeves' theory is proved to be correct, it would solve one of the enduring mysteries of Egyptology.

Archaeologists have long searched for the lost burial place of Nefertiti, who was the chief consort of the pharaoh Akhenaten in the 14th Century BC.

Dr Reeves has analysed high-definition photographs of King Tut's tomb, which was uncovered by English archaeologist Howard Carter in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.

The photos were published by the art replication specialists Factum Arte in 2014, and were used to create a facsimile of Tutankhamun's burial chamber.

Dr Reeves argues that his close analysis of the photos reveals "two previously unknown doorways" within the tomb which could lead to Nefertiti's final resting place.


In a report published by the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, Dr Reeves writes that the implications of the discovery are "extraordinary".

"Cautious evaluation of the Factum Arte scans over the course of several months has yielded results which are beyond intriguing," he writes.

"(There are) indications of two previously unknown doorways, one set within a larger partition wall and both seemingly untouched since antiquity.

"The implications are extraordinary: for, if digital appearance translates into physical reality, it seems we are now faced not merely with the prospect of a new, Tutankhamun-era storeroom to the west.

"To the north (there) appears to be signalled a continuation of tomb KV 62, and within these uncharted depths an earlier royal interment - that of Nefertiti herself."

While noting that the case is "compelling", Dr Reeves cautions that his theory must be proved by on-the-ground analysis of King Tutankhamun's tomb.

He writes: "Obviously a full and detailed geophysical survey of this famous tomb and its surrounding area is now called for - and I would suggest as one of Egyptology's highest priorities."

Scholarly debate about Nefertiti's burial place has continued for more than a century. Some believe she was buried in Amarna, an ancient capital city founded by Pharaoh Akhenaten.

Two mummies found in the Valley of the Kings, known as the "Elder Lady" and the "Younger Lady", have not been conclusively proved to be Queen Nefertiti.

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