Pharaoh's treasures: Following the discovery of Thutmose II's first tomb, researchers have uncovered another one.

Last week, archaeologists announced the discovery of the tomb of Thutmose II — the first pharaoh's tomb found since Tutankhamun's in 1922, which had been flooded and looted within six years after the pharaoh's death in 1479 BC. However, this discovery is not the end, as researchers anticipate finding another burial site, writes The Guardian.

The team, led by British archaeologist Pearce Leterland, believes they may have uncovered a second tomb linked to Thutmose II. This burial site, thought to be hidden beneath 23 meters of limestone rubble, gravel, and clay, was meticulously camouflaged to blend in with the surrounding mountains.

Leterland explained: "There are 23 meters of artificial layers above a point in the landscape where we believe — and we have other corroborating evidence — that a monument is hidden."

He suggests that the efforts required to create such careful concealment indicate the significance of what lies beneath, possibly the mummified remains of Thutmose II and burial goods.

The search for the second tomb began during an exploration of the area around the first tomb, where the team discovered an inscription related to Hatshepsut, the wife and half-sister of Thutmose II. The inscription hints that she may have relocated the original contents of the first tomb to this secret location.

Leterland's team, along with the New Kingdom Research Foundation and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, is working to access the second tomb by excavating the artificial layers, which include massive limestone blocks and clay masses containing ash and remnants of ancient tools.

The excavations have been challenging due to the strategic positioning of the layers. In ancient times, large portions of rock were intentionally collapsed to seal the tomb. These massive rocks, some the size of a car, were then cemented in place with limestone plaster.

Leterland's team is carefully removing this protective barrier by hand, and this process is expected to take about another month. He noted: "We tried to tunnel through, we tried to cut the walls, but there are overhanging rocks, so it’s too dangerous."

Historians believe that the tomb was designed by the architect of the 18th dynasty, Ineni, who mentioned in his biography that he "excavated the high tomb of His Majesty, no one has seen, no one has heard."

Facing the problem of the first tomb's destruction due to flooding, Ineni likely resorted to extreme measures to ensure that the second tomb remained hidden and protected. This strategy of layering clay and limestone blocks was unprecedented and aimed at safeguarding the tomb from both water damage and looters.

The concealment technique proved effective, as no burial inventory associated with Thutmose II has ever been found in museums or private collections. Moreover, the mummy discovered in 1881 in Deir el-Bahari, once thought to be Thutmose II's, belonged to a man who was too old to be the young ruler described in historical records.

For Leterland, the possibility of finding the final resting place of Thutmose II is not only an extraordinary archaeological achievement but also a realization of his lifelong passion for Ancient Egypt. He reflected on the experience, saying: "You dream of such things. But, like winning the lottery, you never believe it will happen to you."

Additionally, we discussed why scholars have yet to decipher the language of the Indus civilization.