• King Thutmose II's tomb has been discovered near the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt, marking the first pharaonic tomb found in over a century.
• The tomb was revealed by a joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission, which initially believed it belonged to a royal consort.
• Inside the tomb, fragments of alabaster jars with inscriptions confirming the identity of Thutmose II and his wife, Queen Hatshepsut, were found.

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough, Egyptian officials announced the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal burial site unearthed since the famed tomb of Tutankhamun was found over a century ago. The announcement made by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on February 19, 2025, confirmed the tomb's location in the Western Valleys of the Theban Necropolis, near Luxor, an area renowned for its rich royal history.

Thutmose II, who reigned about 3,500 years ago during Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty, is known to be an ancestor of Tutankhamun and the husband of Queen Hatshepsut, one of ancient Egypt's few female pharaohs. This discovery finally reveals the long-missing royal tomb of the 18th Dynasty, which was believed to hold significant treasures and historical artifacts.

The excavation, led by a joint team from the New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, began with the identification of the tomb's entrance in 2022. Initially, researchers assumed they had found the tomb of a royal consort due to its location near burial sites of royal women and Hatshepsut’s temple. However, deeper investigations uncovered the significance of Thutmose II's resting place.

Among the finds were fragments of alabaster jars with inscriptions identifying the king as the 'deceased king' and mentioning Hatshepsut. Additionally, the tomb’s interior showcased beautiful decorations, including a blue-painted ceiling adorned with yellow stars, a design typically reserved for king's tombs, confirming its royal status.

Despite the lack of iconic treasures commonly associated with Egyptian royal tombs — believed to have been relocated or damaged due to flooding shortly after Thutmose II's burial — the Ministry labeled this discovery as "one of the most significant archaeological breakthroughs in recent years."

The site is part of a broader initiative to enhance Egypt’s tourism, which significantly dropped after recent global crises. The Egyptian government aims to attract 18 million visitors by 2025, with the newly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum set to open soon. According to reports, Egypt hosted approximately 15.7 million tourists in 2022, underlining the importance of such discoveries in boosting interest and revenue from tourism.

This excavation not only fills a gap in Egyptian history but also showcases the collaborative efforts of international archaeologists committed to revealing the secrets of the ancient world. The team plans to continue exploring the site to locate any remaining original contents of the tomb.

For more details, you can visit the announcement made by Le Monde, along with reports from ABC News, and BBC.