Researchers find evidence of hidden chambers near Tutankhamun's tomb
Geophysical survey suggests corridors and rooms pre-dating the pharaoh's burial may hold Nefertiti's remains.
What to know
- Researchers using gravitational measurements and ground-penetrating radar report new evidence of hidden chambers near Tutankhamun's tomb that may contain Nefertiti's remains.
- The finding builds on British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves's 2015 theory that the tomb conceals a larger royal burial behind a false wall.
- Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities must approve exploratory drilling, which could begin as early as November 2026.
Mamdouh Eldamaty Lead archaeologist; former antiquities ministerNicholas Reeves Independent British EgyptologistGeorge Ballard Structural engineer; president of GBG GroupEgypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities Regulatory authority
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Nature publishes detailed analysis of hidden chamber evidence
Nature magazine released a detailed article covering the new geophysical survey, noting the first use of gravitational techniques to probe density around the site alongside ground-penetrating radar. Co-author George Ballard told Nature that exploratory drilling could begin in November if Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities approves.
“If approved, careful drilling to deploy miniature tractors equipped with cameras could start in November.”
— George Ballard -
Makes sense, the king dies unexpectedly, you need a tomb real quick. It probably takes years to dig these tombs and that's assuming you've found a suitable place to dig. You pick an existing tomb of a less popular ruler, wall of some sections (but maybe leave the artifacts?), renovate the new main chamber for him, and put a new name out front.It's…
2 more of the top 3 · 12 posts in this stretch
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Interesting, I read about excavations in beginning of 20th century on Wiki:> In protest of the government's increasing restrictions, Carter and his associates stopped work in February 1924, beginning a legal dispute that lasted until January 1925. Under the agreement that resolved the dispute, the artefacts from the tomb would not be divided…
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I've also been watching Stargate (on season 2), it's fun getting to know the Vancouver area as Jack and friends explore the galaxy but always end up in the PNW ;)Just found this list of filming locatiobs.
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Eldamaty team publishes new geophysical evidence of hidden chambers
Mamdouh Eldamaty and colleagues at Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics released findings using gravitational techniques and ground-penetrating radar, suggesting a "hidden complex" of corridors and rooms pre-dating Tutankhamun's entombment. The study was published online in the Occasional Papers of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project.
“If confirmed, this could rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era.”
— Mamdouh Eldamaty -
first by Nature News, 6d ago · also HeritageDaily, Archaeology News Online Magazine, The National UAE
3 more headlines
- New evidence points to possible hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb HeritageDaily · 5d ago
- New scans point to hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb linked to Nefertiti theory Archaeology News Online Magazine · 3d ago
- Do hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb hold remains of Nefertiti? The National UAE · 21h ago
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first by Nature News, 7d ago
1 more headline
- Exclusive: New evidence for hidden chambers beyond Tutankhamun’s tomb Nature News · 7d ago
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background
Nicholas Reeves proposes hidden chamber theory — British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves suggested that Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) could be hiding the resting place of his predecessor Nefertiti, based on lines and cracks in the north wall and alterations to paintings in the burial chamber.
What people are saying 8 voices from 1 site · best of 12 · verbatim
- Sep 20
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What happened to all that nutty looking "giant complex found under pyramids" stuff from last year that went mega-viral?
- Sep 19
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The tomb, which was built in the fourteenth century bc and discovered in 1922Discovered 104 years ago, and yet...Ballard says he doesn’t yet have permission from the Egyptian authorities to release all of the dataOh FFS... doesn't space-based ground-penetrating radar already exist?
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I have fond memories of reading National Geographic magazine growing up. I remember they had memorable issues with King Tut. And Ancient Egypt in general. Made me fall in love with learning about Ancient Egypt.Anyone else here have fond memories of reading those old National Geographic issues?
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this would have been a fun headline 20 years ago but as technology has improved, it's getting more and more absurd that we don't just have multiple datasets from different imaging methods of the whole entire structure.
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So they're saying there's one tomb, that seems very real, that conceals a hidden entrance to another, larger tomb complex?Okay, sure, explore away. But I'm not coming along, and if you find any jeweled skulls don't touch them.
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The 10 year old inside me is so incredibly excited. My actual 10 year old self was obsessed with tombs and ancient Egypt. I remember a whole summer I couldn't stop thinking about and talking about the "Sphinx on the face of Mars". Thankfully these days I have friends, but I have been rewatching all of Stargate so this is very timely.
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What is the physical limitation that prevents a very big metal detector from telling us if there’s gold or other signatures?
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I feel like I see this headline ever 2 months. it's like cancer research. lots of fluff, never any progress. then you get the alien people saying it's cuz they're hiding aliens. i'm exhausted.