Possible hidden chambers discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb
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Archaeologists in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings are investigating new evidence that suggests hidden spaces exist within Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty and colleagues believe these spaces may hold the remains of Nefertiti, a queen who some believe briefly ruled as pharaoh. The tomb, discovered in 1922, is unusually small for a royal burial, leading Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves to propose in 2015 that a wall conceals additional chambers.
Researchers re-examined the tomb’s walls using ground-penetrating radar and microgravity surveys. George Ballard, a construction engineer, analyzed the data and found indications of a two-meter-wide corridor filled with debris extending from the burial chamber. The team also identified areas of potentially artificial construction above and around the tomb using the microgravity technique, which measures subtle changes in Earth’s gravitational field to detect density variations. Other geophysicists have expressed interest but caution that more data is needed to confirm the findings.
Eldamaty’s team has proposed drilling small boreholes to investigate an area of low density near the burial chamber, and they are testing a remotely operated camera system to view inside the potential chambers. The Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities will ultimately decide whether to proceed with further investigation.
