Tomb of Thutmose II

Wadi C-4
Burial site of Thutmose II
Location	Wadi Gabbanat el-Qurud, Western Wadis
Decoration	Book of the Amduat
Layout	Left-hand-turn design

The tomb of Thutmose II, discovered in 2022 and attributed in 2025, is a royal Ancient Egyptian tomb located in the Wadi Gabbanat el-Qurud area west of Luxor. The tomb was identified through a joint Egyptian-British archaeological expedition. Originally designated as tomb Wadi C-4, the tomb's linkage to Thutmose II led to it becoming the first royal Egyptian chamber tomb uncovered since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

Discovery

The tomb was initially discovered during broader archeological expeditions conducted across the Western Wadis. Initial exploration of the tomb began in 2022 with the discovery of its entrance and main passage in Wadi C west of Luxor, designated as Wadi C-4. The tomb was believed to have remained sealed since during the Third Intermediate Period. Repeated flooding events filled the main axis with densely packed debris that had hardened to a concrete-like consistency. These environmental factors also compromised the structural integrity of the tomb's ceilings, resulting in partial collapses.

The archaeological team, originally suspecting the tomb belonged to a royal wife due to its proximity to the tombs of Thutmose III's wives and Queen Hatshepsut's original burial site, continued meticulous excavations for nearly three years before the tomb's royal ownership was confirmed.

Design and architecture

The tomb exhibits a simple architectural design characteristic of the period following Thutmose II's reign, which would influence the burial structures of subsequent Egyptian rulers. The tomb's location near both the Valley of the Kings and the burial sites of royal wives provides significant insight into the evolution of royal burial practices during the Eighteenth Dynasty. The tomb was built around an early variation of a "left-hand-turn design" that became standard for subsequent Eighteenth Dynasty royal tombs.

The tomb contained an "unusual" second corridor which featured a white gypsum plaster finishing, and exhibited evidence of two enlargement phases. Unlike typical tomb corridors that slope downward, the passage angles upward and intersects with the burial chamber at a height of 1.4 meters above the chamber floor. Archaeological evidence suggests this modification served as an emergency egress route following ancient flooding events.

The tomb's preservation condition was notably compromised, primarily due to flooding that occurred shortly after Thutmose II's interment. Archaeological evidence suggested that following these ancient floods, many of the tomb's original contents were relocated to protect them from further damage. The burial chamber of Thutmose II was likely moved to the Deir el-Bahari Cachette, where his mummy was uncovered in the 19th century.

Decoration

The tomb's contents included several artifacts that confirmed its royal ownership. Notable surviving decorative elements included alabaster vessels bearing inscriptions of both Thutmose II's name, referring to him as the "deceased king," and that of his wife-sister Hatshepsut. The excavation also revealed mortar fragments decorated with blue inscriptions along with yellow star motifs. The tomb also contained portions of the Book of Amduat, a funerary text commonly found in royal tombs of the period intended to guide deceased royalty through the afterlife. The uncovered artifacts represented the first instance of Thutmose II's funerary furniture being found, as no such artifacts previously existed in museum collections worldwide. Archaeologists believed that persistent flooding of the tomb led to the loss of many original artifacts.