Science

Egypt finds new clues that Queen Nefertiti may lie buried behind Tut’s tomb

Scans of King Tut’s burial chamber have revealed two hidden rooms, Egypt’s antiquities minister said Thursday — a discovery that could intensify speculation that the chambers contain the remains of the famed Queen Nefertiti. Mamdouh el-Damaty told reporters that the secret chambers may contain metal or organic material, but he declined to comment on whether royal treasure or mummies could be inside. British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves speculates that Tutankhamun, who died at the age of 19, may have been rushed into an outer chamber of what was originally Nefertiti’s tomb, which archaeologists have yet to find.

It can be the discovery of the century. It’s very important for Egyptian history and the history of the world.

Damaty

Reeves reached his theory on Nefertiti, thought to be Tutankhamun’s stepmother, after high-resolution images discovered what he said were straight lines in King Tut’s tomb. These lines, previously hidden by color and the stones’ texture, indicate the presence of a sealed chamber, he said. The discovery of King Tut’s nearly intact tomb in 1922 sparked a renewed interest in Egyptology and yielded unprecedented Pharaonic treasures, including the boy king’s sarcophagus and iconic golden burial mask. A more advanced scan will be conducted at the end of this month with an international research team to confirm whether the empty spaces are in fact chambers.