Queen Nefertiti is one of the most famous and mysterious characters in the study of ancient Egypt.
The story of Queen Nefertiti has captured the imaginations of generations of historians, archaeologists and simple history lovers alike for thousands of years.
Queen Nefertiti disappeared over 3,000 years ago, after ruling Egypt alongside her husband Amenhotep IV, in a fog of mystery.
Did Queen Nefertiti die? Did she take another name and rule as co-regent? No one knows for sure, but after a recent discovery inside the tomb of none other than the famed Tutankhamen, we may be closer to at least knowing where her final resting place is.
British archaeologist Nicolas Reeves, after studying high-resolution images published last year, noticed cracks in the walls disguised by the iconic Egyptian art covering the inside of King Tut’s tomb.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9BHVD4Iloo
He believes they could be the remnants of former passageways to a tomb on the other side of the wall.
That, combined with the fact that the artistic depictions seem similar to others which have been identified as Tutankhamen and Queen Nefertiti, leads Reeves to believe that perhaps the famous queen is buried there in Tut’s tomb.
Queen Nefertiti could be just on the other side of the wall.
Speaking of the wall, Reeves said, “Without all this distracting color you can see all sort of things. You can see lines that indicate corners of cut walls, and these are the things that I noticed first.”
He added, “If I’m right, this is simply part of the entrance to the tomb of Nefertiti. The tomb, I think, continues beyond this wall. There will be a burial chamber beyond there.”
So exciting! However, we may have to wait to find out for sure if Queen Nefertiti is indeed buried on the other side of the wall.
First, Reeves will scan the proposed tomb of Queen Nefertiti using radar and thermal imaging. Then, a structural problem must be solved.
Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh El Damati said, “We must find a way to protect the tomb of Tutankhamen. Does that mean we will dig from above, below or from the side? We don’t know.”
Are you excited to find out if Queen Nefertiti’s burial place has actually been found?