Dem Egyptologists don discover di first tomb of pharaoh since dem find Tutankhamun own over one hundred years ago. Until recently, King Thutmose II tomb na di last royal tomb wey dem never find for di 18th Egyptian dynasty. But one British-Egyptian team don locate am for di Western Valleys of di Theban Necropolis near Luxor. Dem researchers think say di burial chambers of di pharaohs from di 18th century dey for di other side of di mountain, near di Valley of di Kings. Di crew see sey na area wey get plenty royal women resting places, but when dem enter di burial chamber, dem find am decorated – na sign of a pharaoh. “And part of di ceiling still dey ok – blue-painted ceiling wit yellow stars on top. And blue-painted ceilings wit yellow stars na only for king’s tombs,” Dr Piers Litherland wey be di field director of di mission talk. Him tell BBC’s Newshour say he dey feel overwhelmed when e see am. “When I come out, my wife dey wait outside and di only tin wey I fit do na to burst into tears,” he talk. “When you meet something wey you no expect to see, e dey really cause emotional wahala.” Him say di discovery don solve di mystery of where di tombs of di early 18th dynasty kings dey. Researchers don find Thutmose II mummified remains two centuries ago, but dem never locate di original burial site.
Thutmose II be ancester of Tutankhamun, wey him reign fit be from about 1493 to 1479 BCE. Him dey popular as Hatshepsut husband, wey dem sabi as one of Egypt greatest pharaohs and one of the few women wey rule as pharaoh. Dr Litherland talk say di ‘large staircase and big descending corridor’ of di tomb show say e be grand. Dem need crawl through 10m passageway, through small 40sq cm opening, before dem fit enter di chamber. There, dem see di blue ceiling and di chamber wey dem decorate with Amduat scenes, religious text wey dey reserved for kings. Na dat be di key sign say dem don find king tomb, Dr Litherland yarn. Artefacts, wey dey include pieces of alabaster jars wey get Thutmose II and Hatshepsut names, provide clear evidence. Dis na di first objects wey dem find wey dey relate to Thutmose II burial. Dr Litherland team don reason say dis tomb fit don flood about six years after di burial so di contents fit don move go another place long time ago. E talk say him team get rough idea of where dat second tomb dey and e fit still dey intact with treasures. Di discovery of di pharaoh tomb end over 12 years of work from Dr Litherland New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Dem team don dig 54 tombs for western side of Theban mountain for Luxor, plus dem don also find identity of more than 30 royal wives and women for court. Sherif Fathy, di minister of tourism and antiquities for Egypt talk, “Dis na di first royal tomb wey dem don find since dem find King Tutankhamun burial chamber for 1922.” E add say, “Na big moment for Egyptology and for di way wey we go fit sabi our human story together.”
