The dark secret of Egypt’s ancient kings: 5,000-year-old skulls suggest royal servants were bludgeoned to death so they could follow their ruler into the afterlife
When Egypt's earliest kings died, they may not have gone to the afterlife alone.
Archaeologists examining the remains of people buried around royal tombs have discovered many had suffered devastating blows to the head.
This suggests trusted servants were killed and entombed alongside their rulers in a brutal ritual dating back 5,000 years.
And these sacrifices would have been made to ensure kings had attendants in the afterlife, experts said.
‘Retainer sacrifice is a type of human sacrifice where those close to a ruler are killed when the ruler dies,’ lead author Dr Roselyn Campbell, from Purdue University, said.
‘In many cultures, retainer sacrifice is practised because of beliefs that the sacrificed individuals will continue to serve the ruler in some kind of afterlife, but retainer sacrifice can also be a visceral display of the ruler's power.
‘Some retainers might have volunteered to die to achieve eternal life or honour; others may have been chosen or even forced.’
Researchers re-examined 46 skulls belonging to servants and officials buried around the funerary enclosures of three First Dynasty rulers at Abydos in southern Egypt
A fresco depicting a funeral procession in ancient Egypt. The study suggests trusted servants were killed and entombed alongside their rulers in a brutal ritual dating back 5,000 years
Plan of the royal tombs (left) and funerary enclosures (right) at Umm el-Qaab in Abydos, southern Egypt. The diagrams show the tombs of First Dynasty rulers surrounded by rows of subsidiary burials, where researchers believe some royal retainers may have been sacrificed to accompany their rulers into the afterlife
For their investigation, researchers re-examined 46 skulls belonging to servants and officials buried around the funerary enclosures of three First Dynasty rulers at Abydos in southern Egypt.
The remains, originally excavated in the 1920s by British archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie, are now housed in the University of Cambridge's Duckworth Collections.
When they were first discovered, experts believed they may have been an example of human sacrifice – but the remains showed no signs of trauma.
Now, using modern forensic techniques unavailable to earlier archaeologists, the team looked for hints of injuries that occurred around the time of death.
They found evidence of potentially fatal cranial trauma in 18 of the skulls, including fractures and, in one case, a chopping wound near the eye.
The researchers concluded that at least 39 per cent of the individuals examined may have been deliberately killed by blows to the head, providing fresh evidence that some royal retainers were sacrificed when their ruler died.
These linear fractures may have initially been mistaken for naturally caused damage, the team said.
A detail from a wooden label discovered in the tomb of an official at the Saqqara cemetery, which appears to depict a bound individual being stabbed in the chest while another figure collects the blood in a vessel... the findings add to previous evidence that ancient Egyptians carried out sacrificial practices
An ancient Egyptian tomb painting showing a funerary or offering scene. The new study showed 39 per cent of servants and officials buried near the funerary enclosures of kings had potentially fatal head wounds
‘The injuries on the preserved crania are generally linear fractures, which would likely cause rapid unconsciousness, internal bleeding and death,’ Dr Campbell said.
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, states it remains unclear exactly how the individuals were killed.
Ancient Egyptian rulers are frequently depicted striking enemies with maces, but the injuries seen on the retainers' skulls do not match the type of damage such weapons would typically cause.
Instead, the fractures suggest they were struck with a broad, flat object, although the possibility of accidental falls cannot be ruled out entirely.
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Hidden for Centuries Near Machu Picchu, an Ancient System of Unknown Inca Roadways Has Resurfaced
More than a mile of ancient Inca roadways, hidden beneath dense tropical vegetation for centuries, have been discovered near Machu Picchu, archaeologists have revealed.
Using drone-mounted laser technology, a Polish-Peruvian research team reports the discovery of more than 1.6 miles of previously unknown roads located across the valley from the famous Peruvian site, offering new insights into ancient .
The discoveries were made during research the international collaboration was undertaking within Peru’s Machu Picchu National Archaeological Park, and required the use of drones equipped with light detection and ranging, or LiDAR technologies, which rely on laser pulses to generate remarkably detailed maps of terrain, even when it is obscured by vegetation or other features when seen from above.
The recent surveys, which were undertaken in July and August of this year, have helped uncover a system of roads that once led toward platforms and terraces located near the so-called Mandor Wall, a feature located across the Urubamba Valley from the Machu Picchu complex.
The recent drone-based LiDAR survey was led by Bartłomiej Ćmielewski, and Peruvian archaeologist Jeff Rocky Contreras Soto participated in the fieldwork, along with other specialists.
The recently discovered roadways near Machu Picchu, as revealed by LiDAR surveys
(Image edited by Bartłomiej Ćmielewski)
The research team says its discoveries add new insights into the extensive network of roads and settlements that surround the area known as Llaqta de Machu Picchu.
In the past, more than 60 archaeological sites have already been documented in the park, many of which were connected by a complex system of roads at the height of their use centuries ago. Each of the individual sites served different purposes and functions related to the primary settlement.
Most of the sites uncovered in the area were located on the left bank of the Urubamba River, which is a headwater of the Amazon River and served as a major waterway for the Inca many centuries ago.
An archaeologist examines the Wall of Mandor near Peru’s Machu Picchu (Image Credit: Jeff Contreras)
However, the newly documented roadways, platforms, and terraces offer additional evidence that supports past discoveries suggesting there had been significant Inca construction and activity that also occurred on the opposite side of the valley.
More work remains for the international collaboration, and a future field campaign planned for the 2027 field season is expected to complete the team’s remote-sensing surveys of the area. After that, partial excavations of some of the newly uncovered roadways and other features will also be undertaken.
“There will definitely be at least twice as many,” said Prof. Mariusz Ziółkowski of the team’s forthcoming work in a recent statement.
“LiDAR is a technology that requires many hours of analysis using complex software. It’s very tedious work, so we’ve only completed the first stage of analysis,” Ziółkowski added.
For now, the research team, consisting of archaeologists from the University of Warsaw, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, and institutions in Peru, says the precise locations of the recent discoveries have not yet been revealed due to concerns over looting and potential damage to the ancient sites.
“This discovery complements and significantly modifies hypotheses regarding the functioning of the entire complex,” Ziółkowski said of the team’s recent discoveries, adding that the researchers plan to expand their investigations into the surrounding research area next year.
“We will seek permission, together with Peruvian colleagues, to conduct at least spot excavations of the discovered routes,” Ziółkowski said.
Mysterious giant carving may show a Kushite ruler and mark an ancient borderland
In a new study published in the journal Antiquity, scientists investigated both the petroglyph and the church to understand what these connected monuments reveal about the area's history.
"The church at Miseeda, erected in the seventh century around the much older petroglyph, appears to have developed around a site that had retained social significance over millennia," wrote the researchers.
While the church and the carving were the main focus of the project, they were far from the only features studied. In all, the study authors surveyed nearly 300 archaeological sites across the Miseeda area, part of the Mahas region.
On the granite hill around the church, the team documented other rock carvings, including animals like lions, elephants and cattle, alongside later Christian symbols such as crosses and carved ships.
Elsewhere, the team led by Dr. Joanna A. Ciesielska of the University of Warsaw studied pottery from the area. Analysis of various styles revealed several periods of human activity, peaking in the ancient Mesolithic period (12,000–8,200 years ago), the Late Neolithic/pre-Kerma period (c. 3000–2500 BCE) and later medieval Christian times (c. 6th–15th centuries CE).
To better understand who the giant rock carving might represent, the researchers looked at similar monuments in the region. One example is at a site called Gebel Qeili, which features a giant carving of King Sherkarer, an ancient ruler from the Kingdom of Kush. Such monumental carvings are rare in this part of Africa. The scientists suggest that the Miseeda carving may depict a ruler and could have served as a marker of a borderland.
"This reinforces the interpretation of the Miseeda representation as a marker of a borderland; however, a more precise date remains to be established," commented the study authors.
The researchers also collected accounts from local people to understand how the community views these ancient ruins today.
The community used to view the church as a sacred place for pilgrimages, but over time that changed. Today, some locals call the church "Beit Kitchiner" or "Beit Sheitan" and consider it both a cursed and miraculous space. Meanwhile, the main sacred site is now a nearby shrine dedicated to a local holy man named Sheikh Kuman.
While the exact identity of the carved figure remains a mystery, the work has revealed much more about the civilizations that lived in the region.
Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.
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Egyptologists uncover 4,000-year-old tomb of the 'keeper of the king's secrets' – with a mysterious 'portal to the afterlife'
Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000–year–old tomb that belonged to one of ancient Egypt's most powerful officials – with a mysterious 'portal to the afterlife'.
The discovery was made at the Bubasteion Necropolis in Saqqara, one of Egypt's most important archaeological sites.
Hieroglyphs reveal the tomb belonged to a senior official named Sakhnetio-Btah, who lived during the time of the Old Kingdom.
Inscriptions identified him as the 'keeper of the king's secrets', highlighting his privileged access to the pharaoh's inner circle.
Despite the mysterious name, the title probably did not mean guarding hidden treasures or religious mysteries.
Experts believe it referred to a high-ranking official who handled confidential royal documents and decrees on behalf of an Old Kingdom pharaoh.
He also served as a royal chamberlain, a priest of the goddess Maat and supervisor of the royal library.
'The hieroglyphic inscriptions… helped to determine the name of the owner of the cemetery and the number of his titles, including the keeper of royal secrets, which reflect the high status he held in the administrative system of the ancient state,' Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
The tomb also includes the remains of a funerary chapel and a false door, which ancient Egyptians believed was a portal to the afterlife
Inscriptions reveal the tomb belonged to the 'keeper of the king's secrets', highlighting his privileged access to the pharaoh's inner circle
The tomb includes the remains of a funerary chapel and a false door – a symbolic niche which the ancient Egyptians believed was a magical threshold between the world of the living and the realm of the dead.
Archaeologists also discovered a funerary ritual objects including an offering table, an offering slab and a purification basin.
Experts say finding the objects exactly where they were originally placed provides a rare glimpse into Old Kingdom funerary practices.
The dig also uncovered an interconnected network of burial shafts surrounding the tomb.
Inside were numerous human burials and large quantities of painted funerary cartonnage – a colourful papier-mache-like covering placed over a mummy, often decorated with images of Egyptian gods, hieroglyphics and scenes intended to protect the dead on their journey to the afterlife.
More than 100 ushabti figurines, which were intended to serve the dead in the afterlife, were also recovered.
Among the most spectacular finds were three stone sarcophagi discovered sealed and intact in their original positions.
Archaeologists also found a wooden falcon statue and a wide range of pottery vessels and other artefacts.
Preliminary investigations suggest that some parts of the burial complex were looted by tomb robbers in ancient times.
Despite this, many of the surviving finds remain in remarkably good condition.
Researchers believe the discoveries will help them better understand how the site was reused over different periods of Egyptian history.
Excavations are continuing, with experts convinced that the vast necropolis still has many more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Saqqara, where the tomb was found, is one of Egypt's most significant archaeological sites.
It is the home of Egypt's oldest pyramid – the step pyramid of Djoser – which was built around 4,700 years ago.
The site also contains thousands of tombs belonging to pharaohs, nobles, priests and high-ranking officials from multiple dynasties.
In recent years archaeologists at Saqqara have uncovered dozens of sealed coffins, extensive animal cemeteries, workshops used for mummification, and richly decorated burial shafts packed with statues and artefacts.
These discoveries have transformed understanding of everyday religious life in ancient Egypt.
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Egyptologists uncover 4,000–year–old tomb of the 'keeper of the king's secrets' – with a mysterious 'portal to the afterlife'Archaeologists have uncovered a 4,000–year–old tomb that belonged to one of ancient Egypt's most powerful officials - with a mysterious 'portal to the afterlife'.
The discovery was made at the Bubasteion Necropolis in Saqqara, one of Egypt's most important archaeological sites.
Hieroglyphs reveal the tomb belonged to a senior official named Sakhnetio–Btah, who lived during the time of the Old Kingdom.
Inscriptions identified him as the 'keeper of the king's secrets', highlighting his privileged access to the pharaoh's inner circle.
Despite the mysterious name, the title probably did not mean guarding hidden treasures or religious mysteries.
Experts believe it referred to a high–ranking official who handled confidential royal documents and decrees on behalf of an Old Kingdom pharaoh.
He also served as a royal chamberlain, a priest of the goddess Maat and supervisor of the royal library.
'The hieroglyphic inscriptions… helped to determine the name of the owner of the cemetery and the number of his titles, including the keeper of royal secrets, which reflect the high status he held in the administrative system of the ancient state,' Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
The tomb also includes the remains of a funerary chapel and a false door, which ancient Egyptians believed was a portal to the afterlife
Inscriptions reveal the tomb belonged to the 'keeper of the king's secrets', highlighting his
The tomb includes the remains of a funerary chapel and a false door – a symbolic niche which the ancient Egyptians believed was a mag
Archaeologists also discovered a complete assemblage of funerary ritual objects including an offering table, an offering slab and a purification basin.
Experts say finding the objects exactly where they were originally placed provides a rare glimpse into Old Kingdom funerary practices.
The dig also uncovered an interconnected network of burial shafts surrounding the tomb.
Inside were numerous human burials and large quantities of painted funerary cartonnage – a colourful papier–mâché–like covering placed over a mummy, often decorated with images of Egyptian gods, hieroglyphics and scenes intended to protect the dead on their journey to the afterlife.
More than 100 ushabti figurines, which were intended to serve the dead in the afterlife, were also recovered.
Among the most spectacular finds were three stone sarcophagi discovered sealed and intact in their original positions.
Archaeologists also found a wooden falcon statue and a wide range of pottery vessels and other artefacts.
Archaeologists also discovered a complete assemblage of funerary ritual objects including an offering table, an offering slab and a purification basin (left). The dig also uncovered an interconnected network of burial shafts surrounding the tomb (right)
Preliminary investigations suggest that some parts of the burial complex were looted by tomb robbers in ancient times.
Despite this, many of the surviving finds remain in remarkably good condition.
Researchers believe the discoveries will help them better understand how the site was reused over different periods of Egyptian history.
Excavations are continuing, with experts convinced that the vast necropolis still has many more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Saqqara, where the tomb was found, is one of Egypt's most significant archaeological sites.
It is the home of Egypt's oldest pyramid – the step pyramid of Djoser – which was built around 4,700 years ago.
The site also contains thousands of tombs belonging to pharaohs, nobles, priests and high–ranking officials from multiple dynasties.
In recent years archaeologists at Saqqara have uncovered dozens of sealed coffins, extensive animal cemeteries, workshops used for mummification, and richly decorated burial shafts packed with statues and artefacts.
These discoveries have transformed understanding of everyday religious life in ancient Egypt
Noah's Ark hunt takes stunning turn as forgotten map matches new discovery
A centuries-old map has resurfaced amid a stunning new development in the search for Noah's Ark.
The map, created in 1587 by Italian nobleman and cartographer Urbano Monte, stretches nearly 10 feet wide when fully assembled and is packed with elaborate illustrations of continents, mythical creatures and unexplored lands.
Hidden within the world diagram is a small depiction of Noah's Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat in modern-day Turkey - the region researchers are currently searching for the biblical vessel.
The striking detail has sparked fascination online as it aligns with the Durupınar Formation, where researchers are currently investigating for remains of the biblical boat.
Independent researcher Jimmy Corsetti wrote online: 'The same location as the Durupınar site, virtually the exact same length. Coincidence?'
The international team examining the Durupınar Formation recently said it has '100 percent confirmed' that the mound is not a natural geological feature but a 'man-made object.'
Andrew Jones, founder of Noah's Ark Scans, said in a statement that preliminary radar data do not show 'a simple homogeneous solid-rock signature.'
The team had recovered samples from nearly 60 feet. 'We have so far recovered layers of rich organic material that we believe could be the decayed top-tier remains of the Ark,' Jones explained.
Hidden within the map is a small depiction of Noah's Ark resting on the mountains of Ararat in modern-day Turkey, the same region many believe still hides the legendary vessel
Created in 1587 by Italian nobleman and cartographer Urbano Monte, the massive map stretches nearly 10 feet wide when fully assembled and is packed with elaborate illustrations of continents, mythical creatures and unexplored lands
Monte created the map during the height of the Age of Exploration, when European cartographers were rapidly redrawing the known world following voyages to the Americas and Asia.
Unlike most 16th-century maps, this diagram was designed from a north polar perspective, placing the Arctic at the center of the world.
The enormous map consists of 60 separate hand-drawn sheets that can be assembled into a single circular image measuring nearly 10 feet across.
It is filled with elaborate illustrations of ships, sea monsters, mythical creatures and detailed notes describing distant lands and cultures.
Historians believe Monte was inspired to create the map after a Japanese delegation visited Milan in 1585, exposing Europeans to new global perspectives. The original manuscript is now housed at Stanford University's David Rumsey Map Center, where it was digitally restored and made available online.
The depiction has drawn attention because it places Noah's Ark on the mountains of Ararat centuries before modern researchers began searching the region for evidence of the biblical vessel.
The Bible recounts Noah's Ark resting on the 'mountains of Ararat' after a 150-day flood submerged the Earth, sparing only those aboard the wooden vessel.
The idea that the ark landed in the Turkish mountain range has long sparked debate.
Just 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, Turkey's tallest peak, the Durupinar Formation emerged less than a century ago
The radar captured 'a series of right angles' about 20 feet down, which researchers believe could be the rooms that held animals on the ark
While many scientists argue the formation is a naturally occurring geological feature, others are convinced it points to something far more extraordinary.
The team at Noah's Ark Scans firmly believes the latter.
'For decades, skeptics have had one simple answer for the boat-shaped Durupınar Formation: it is just a solid lump of natural rock,' Noah's Ark Scans said on Wednesday.
'The mission was direct: put the "solid rock" explanation to the test. Is the formation a single homogeneous mass of natural stone? Does it contain internal structures?
'Where does the true bedrock lie beneath it, and how does that bedrock continue across the surrounding valley?'
The team shared online that radar scans found three layers beneath the formation's surface, claiming they feature chambers, corridors, organized patterns, and tunnels.
Lauren Witzke, head of marketing and fundraising for Noah's Ark Scans, said on X: 'Scientists confirm the formation is 100 percent not geological. They say, and I quote, that it is a “man-made object."'
Tests conducted by Noah's Ark Scans have also found higher carbon levels inside the formation than in matching soil collected just a few yards away on the same hillside.
The researchers added further studies using infrared thermography (IRT), a heat-sensing technology that can uncover hidden structures underground, have also suggested the presence of a ship-shaped hull buried deep in the soil
Researchers said the difference could point to a concentration of organic material, potentially the remains of ancient wood, although no timber has been recovered.
Lead archaeologist Dr Cenker Atila said: ‘The amount of carbon coming from the interior of the ship is 40 percent higher than what was found outside.’
‘This raises the idea that there may be organic material or remains of wood.’
The findings remain unverified while the collected samples undergo laboratory testing. The team expects to publish a fuller analysis in the coming weeks.
The curse of King Tutankhamun’s tomb: As archaeologists plan to drill inside to look for Queen Nefertiti - the unsettling stories of people allegedly doomed after its opening
The discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922 captivated the world – but it also gave rise to one of archaeology's most enduring legends.
A string of illnesses, accidents and untimely deaths among people linked to the excavation fuelled claims that the young pharaoh's resting place was protected by a deadly curse.
Now, as archaeologists consider drilling into suspected hidden chambers that could contain the long-lost tomb of Nefertiti, the eerie stories surrounding the so-called 'curse of the pharaoh' have resurfaced.
The first person fell 'victim' to the curse just five months after the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb.
Lord Carnarvon, chief financial backer for the project, died on April 5, 1923, from blood poisoning and pneumonia after a mosquito bite on his face became infected.
However, some have claimed inhaling spores from the pharaoh's crypt contributed to his death.
The rumours were fuelled by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes series, who, in a piece published in the Glasgow Herald, said: 'An evil elemental may have caused Lord Carnarvon's fatal illness.
'One does not know what elementals existed in those days, nor what their form might be. The Egyptians knew a great deal more about those things than we do.'
A string of illnesses, accidents and untimely deaths among people linked to the excavation fuelled claims that the young pharaoh's resting place was protected by a deadly curse. Pictured: Howard Carter examining Tutankhamun's sarcophagus
New scans have revealed tantalising evidence of a previously unknown network of corridors and chambers (pictured in purple and yellow) just metres from the young pharaoh's burial chamber (in grey). KV 9 refers to the nearby tomb of the pharaohs Ramesses V and Ramesses VI
Another 'cursed' individual who visited King Tut's tomb was George Jay Gould, a wealthy American financier.
He visited the crypt in 1923 as Lord Carnarvon's guest but fell sick almost immediately afterwards. He never recovered and died of pneumonia a few months later.
Arthur Mace, meanwhile, was an archaeologist who helped clear and catalogue the tomb's treasures.
He suffered declining health after working in the tomb and died aged 53 from complications linked to pneumonia.
One of the most mysterious deaths was that of Hugh Evelyn-White, the archaeologist who entered the burial chamber and who took his own life in 1924.
According to reports, he left a note saying: 'I have succumbed to a curse.'
Bizarrely, some of the curse 'victims' never even stepped foot in the tomb.
Lord Carnarvon's half-brother Aubrey Herbert also died in 1923 – shortly after the tomb was opened – after developing blood poisoning following dental surgery.
This added to speculation surrounding the family, with some suggesting he suffered from the curse merely by being related to Lord Carnarvon.
It is believed that inhaling spores from Tutankhamun's tomb may have contributed to the death of Lord Carnarvon, the chief financial backer for the project. Pictured: Experts in the burial chamber during the excavation of the mummy
Members of the team that discovered the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922. From left, Arthur Mace (died 1928), Richard Bethell (died 1929), Arthur Callender (died 1937), Lady Evelyn Herbert (died 1980), Howard Carter (died 1939), Lord Carnarvon, (died 1923), Alfred Lucas (died 1945) and official photographer Harry Burton (died 1940)
Another person who allegedly fell foul of the mummy's curse was Aaron Ember, who died in 1926.
Although not directly involved in the excavation, the Egyptologist was friends with members of the team. He died in a house fire while attempting to save a manuscript on ancient Egyptian beliefs.
While Howard Carter – the man who was credited with discovering the tomb – appeared unaffected by any mysterious wrongdoing, the same can't be said for his friends.
Publishing entrepreneur Sir Bruce Ingram reportedly received a mummified hand as a gift from Mr Carter, which he used as a paperweight.
Soon after, his house allegedly burned down and was subsequently damaged by flooding during rebuilding.
Another figure frequently cited in curse stories is radiologist Sir Archibald Douglas Reid.
Popular lore and sensationalised news reports from the 1920s claimed that Sir Archibald X-rayed King Tut's remains just before the mummy was handed over to museum authorities.
Storytellers claim he fell ill the next day and died three days later in Switzerland following abdominal surgery.
Lord Carnarvon (left) died months after the opening of Tutankhamun's tomb. Howard Carter (right)is the man who first discovered the crypt
Renowned Egyptologist James Henry Breasted was also part of Howard Carter's team during the exploration of Tutankhamun's tomb.
According to legend, shortly after the discovery he returned home to find his pet canary had been killed by a cobra that was still sitting inside the bird's cage.
As the cobra was a powerful symbol of ancient Egyptian royalty and appeared on pharaohs' headdresses as a sign of protection, the incident was widely interpreted as an ominous warning.
However, perhaps the strongest argument against the curse is the fate of Howard Carter himself.
The archaeologist who discovered the tomb, oversaw its excavation and spent more time inside it than anyone else lived for another 17 years, dying from cancer in 1939 at the age of 64.
Far from meeting a mysterious end, Mr Carter's relatively long life has led many historians to dismiss the so-called curse of the pharaoh as little more than a myth fuelled by coincidence.
The face of Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC. Right, his famous gold funeral mask
Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC.
He was the son of Akhenaten and took to the throne at the age of nine or ten.
When he became king, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten.
He died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown.
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon George Herbert asked English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter to supervise excavations in the Valley of the Kings.
On 4 November 1922, Carter's group found steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb.
He spent several months cataloguing the antechamber before opening the burial chamber and discovering the sarcophagus in February 1923.
When the tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, under the patronage of Lord Carnarvon, the media frenzy that followed was unprecedented.
Carter and his team took 10 years to clear the tomb of its treasure because of the multitude of objects found within it.
For many, Tut embodies ancient Egypt's glory because his tomb was packed with the glittering wealth of the rich 18th Dynasty from 1569 to 1315 BC.
Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass (3rd L) supervises the removal of the lid of the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun in his underground tomb in the famed Valley of the Kings in 2007.
Has Queen Nefertiti finally been found? New scans provide fresh evidence for a hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that could hold the remains of his long-lost stepmother
It is the most famous tomb in the world, extensively studied by Egyptologists since it was discovered by Howard Carter more than a century ago and visited by hundreds of thousands every year.
But archaeologists believe they may have uncovered a new secret hiding behind the walls of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
For scans have revealed tantalising evidence of a previously unknown network of corridors and chambers just metres from the young pharaoh’s burial chamber.
If the researchers are right, they could contain one of ancient Egypt’s greatest missing treasures – the long-lost burial place of his stepmother, Queen Nefertiti.
The study, first reported in Nature, involved a range of geophysical surveys and clues from ground-penetrating radar.
Analysis of the tomb structure, the ground around it and wall paintings indicate there is a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms.
They appear to pre-date the entombment of Tutankhamun, the experts said – suggesting they could hold the remains of his stepmother. If confirmed, the discovery could 'rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era'.
Any excavation or drilling would require approval from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. If approved, careful drilling to deploy tiny tractors equipped with cameras could start in the next two months.
New scans have revealed tantalising evidence of a previously unknown network of corridors and chambers (pictured in purple and yellow) just metres from the young pharaoh's burial chamber (in grey). KV 9 refers to the nearby tomb of the pharaohs Ramesses V and Ramesses VI
A room inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun, who died at the age of 18 or 19, in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. Analysis of the tomb structure, the ground around it and wall paintings indicate there is a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms
The idea that there could be a hidden chamber within the tomb containing Tutankhamun's predecessor, Nefertiti, was first proposed in 2015 by British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves
He said lines and cracks in the north wall of the burial chamber, as well as alterations to the room's paintings, made him believe the structure was a false wall.
The tomb itself is unexpectedly small for a royal burial, leading some to think it is part of a larger network of chambers.
Mr Reeves proposed that when Tutankhamun died unexpectedly, as a teenager, a much larger royal tomb was adapted for his burial, with the deeper sections blocked off.
For the new study, archaeologists at Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics used powerful ground-penetrating radar to probe the interior walls of the tomb.
Their analysis indicates a 6.5 foot (two metre) wide corridor leading away from the burial chamber.
George Ballard, co-author of the study, said previous teams may have missed it because they were searching for a large void immediately behind the wall.
Further investigations involving a microgravity survey – a technique that can measure density through tiny variations in the Earth's gravitational field – pointed to a series of hidden chambers tucked into the rock behind.
Further investigations involving a microgravity survey – a technique that can measure density through tiny variations in the Earth's magnetic field – pointed to a series of hidden chambers tucked into the rock behind (depicted with dashed yellow lines)
The proposed opening to the corridor, in what experts believe could be a 'false wall' in the side of Tutankhamun's tomb
The study, published in Occasional Papers of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, compares the layout of Tutankhamun's tomb to others, including that of Hatshepsut – one of ancient Egypt's most powerful female pharaohs.
The team point out that the exit in Tutankhamun's tomb is left-turning – identical to the layout of Hatshepsut's resting place.
However, tombs for kings during this period all have right-turning exits.
'The implication of this leftwards turn is clear,' the team wrote. 'KV 62 [Tutankhamun's tomb] conforms to the architectural grammar of neither a private nor a kingly monument.
'The plan Tutankhamun's tomb follows is that of an Eighteenth Dynasty Queen.'
The researchers add that Tutankhamun's burial chamber may have initially served as an intermediary space separating the tomb's visible outer apartments from an original burial suite further back.
This adds to the theory that the tomb was originally for Queen Nefertiti, before being adapted for the early death of her stepson.
The walls of Tutankhamun's burial chamber may contain another clue. Experts believe some of the paintings were originally created for an earlier royal – and that images of Nefertiti may have been altered to portray her stepson after his unexpected death.
Experts believe some of the paintings were originally created for an earlier royal – and that images of Nefertiti may have been altered to portray her son after his unexpected death
View of the proposed funerary complex, showing how it cuts deep into the rock in the Valley of the Kings
'Close analysis confirms that the space employed as a burial chamber for Tutankhamun had not been conceived as such,' the researchers wrote.
'It had originally played a very different, median role within a larger, ultimately regal tomb.
'The identification of the owner and original occupant of this larger tomb is dependent on satisfying a tightly constrained set of conditions: to have been female, as tomb type indicates… to have enjoyed full pharaonic status, and to have been Tutankhamun's immediate predecessor.
'With none but Nefertiti… meeting these criteria, it comes as no surprise to find the north wall's ownership imagery replicating the precise profile of this very lady.'
The team suggest that Tutankhamun's death – barely a decade after his stepmother passed away – prompted the reopening of Nefertiti's tomb and for the outermost rooms to be repurposed as his burial chamber.
'[This room] was now redesigned as a burial chamber for Tutankhamun, with satellite side-rooms newly quarried,' the team wrote.
'[The] single, north wall scene was then revised to suit its new ownership and role.
'By the time these changes had been fully implemented, KV 62 presented the appearance of ownership by Tutankhamun alone – which, for more than a century, is how it has been completely misunderstood.'
One chamber in particular appears to be closed off, with no link to other entrances.
The researchers said there's a chance it could be filled with objects – which may not have been touched since they were first put there more than 3,000 years ago.
The face of Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC. Right, his famous gold funeral mask
Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC.
He was the son of Akhenaten and took to the throne at the age of nine or ten.
When he became king, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten.
He died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown.
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon George Herbert asked English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter to supervise excavations in the Valley of the Kings.
On 4 November 1922, Carter's group found steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb.
He spent several months cataloguing the antechamber before opening the burial chamber and discovering the sarcophagus in February 1923.
When the tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, under the patronage of Lord Carnarvon, the media frenzy that followed was unprecedented.
Carter and his team took 10 years to clear the tomb of its treasure because of the multitude of objects found within it.
For many, Tut embodies ancient Egypt's glory because his tomb was packed with the glittering wealth of the rich 18th Dynasty from 1569 to 1315 BC.
Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass (3rd L) supervises the removal of the lid of the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun in his underground tomb in the famed Valley of the Kings in 2007.
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Has Queen Nefertiti finally been found? New scans provide fresh evidence for a hidden chamber beyond Tutankhamun's tomb that could hold the remains of his long-lost stepmotherIt is the most famous tomb in the world, extensively studied by Egyptologists since it was discovered by Howard Carter more than a century ago and visited by hundreds of thousands every year.
But archaeologists believe they may have uncovered a new secret hiding behind the walls of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
For scans have revealed tantalising evidence of a previously unknown network of corridors and chambers just metres from the young pharaoh’s burial chamber.
If the researchers are right, they could contain one of ancient Egypt’s greatest missing treasures – the long-lost burial place of his stepmother, Queen Nefertiti.
The study, first reported in Nature, involved a range of geophysical surveys and clues from ground-penetrating radar.
Analysis of the tomb structure, the ground around it and wall paintings indicate there is a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms.
They appear to pre-date the entombment of Tutankhamun, the experts said – suggesting they could hold the remains of his stepmother.
And, if confirmed, the discovery could 'rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era'.
New scans have revealed tantalising evidence of a previously unknown network of corridors and chambers (pictured in purple and yellow) just metres from the young pharaoh's burial chamber (in grey). KV 9 refers to the nearby tomb of the pharaohs Ramesses V and Ramesses VI
A room inside the tomb of King Tutankhamun, who died at the age of 18 or 19, in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. Analysis of the tomb structure, the ground around it and wall paintings indicate there is a 'hidden complex' of corridors and rooms
The idea that there could be a hidden chamber within the tomb containing Tutankhamun's predecessor, Nefertiti, was first proposed in 2015 by British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves
He said lines and cracks in the north wall of the burial chamber, as well as alterations to the room's paintings, made him believe the structure was a false wall.
The tomb itself is unexpectedly small for a royal burial, leading some to think it is part of a larger network of chambers.
Mr Reeves proposed that when Tutankhamun died unexpectedly, as a teenager, a much larger royal tomb was adapted for his burial, with the deeper sections blocked off.
For the new study, archaeologists at Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics used powerful ground-penetrating radar to probe the interior walls of the tomb.
Their analysis indicates a 6.5 foot (two metre) wide corridor leading away from the burial chamber.
George Ballard, co-author of the study, said previous teams may have missed it because they were searching for a large void immediately behind the wall.
Further investigations involving a microgravity survey – a technique that can measure density through tiny variations in the Earth's gravitational field – pointed to a series of hidden chambers tucked into the rock behind.
Further investigations involving a microgravity survey – a technique that can measure density through tiny variations in the Earth's magnetic field – pointed to a series of hidden chambers tucked into the rock behind (depicted with dashed yellow lines)
The proposed opening to the corridor, in what experts believe could be a 'false wall' in the side of Tutankhamun's tomb
The study, published in Occasional Papers of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, compares the layout of Tutankhamun's tomb to others, including that of Hatshepsut – one of ancient Egypt's most powerful female pharaohs.
The team point out that the exit in Tutankhamun's tomb is left-turning – identical to the layout of Hatshepsut's resting place.
However, tombs for kings during this period all have right-turning exits.
'The implication of this leftwards turn is clear,' the team wrote. 'KV 62 [Tutankhamun's tomb] conforms to the architectural grammar of neither a private nor a kingly monument.
'The plan Tutankhamun's tomb follows is that of an Eighteenth Dynasty Queen.'
The researchers add that Tutankhamun's burial chamber may have initially served as an intermediary space separating the tomb's visible outer apartments from an original burial suite further back.
This adds to the theory that the tomb was originally for Queen Nefertiti, before being adapted for the early death of her stepson.
The walls of Tutankhamun's burial chamber may contain another clue. Experts believe some of the paintings were originally created for an earlier royal – and that images of Nefertiti may have been altered to portray her stepson after his unexpected death.
Experts believe some of the paintings were originally created for an earlier royal – and that images of Nefertiti may have been altered to portray her son after his unexpected death
View of the proposed funerary complex, showing how it cuts deep into the rock in the Valley of the Kings
Close analysis confirms that the space employed as a burial chamber for Tutankhamun had not been conceived as such,' the researchers wrote.
'It had originally played a very different, median role within a larger, ultimately regal tomb.
'The identification of the owner and original occupant of this larger tomb is dependent on satisfying a tightly constrained set of conditions: to have been female, as tomb type indicates… to have enjoyed full pharaonic status, and to have been Tutankhamun's immediate predecessor.
'With none but Nefertiti… meeting these criteria, it comes as no surprise to find the north wall's ownership imagery replicating the precise profile of this very lady.'
The team suggest that Tutankhamun's death – barely a decade after his stepmother passed away – prompted the reopening of Nefertiti's tomb and for the outermost rooms to be repurposed as his burial chamber.
'[This room] was now redesigned as a burial chamber for Tutankhamun, with satellite side-rooms newly quarried,' the team wrote.
'[The] single, north wall scene was then revised to suit its new ownership and role.
'By the time these changes had been fully implemented, KV 62 presented the appearance of ownership by Tutankhamun alone – which, for more than a century, is how it has been completely misunderstood.'
One chamber in particular appears to be closed off, with no link to other entrances.
The researchers said there's a chance it could be filled with objects – which may not have been touched since they were first put there more than 3,000 years ago.
The decision to enter the supposed chambers is in the hands of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
If approved, careful drilling to deploy tiny tractors equipped with cameras could start in the next two months.
The face of Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC. Right, his famous gold funeral mask
Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, and ruled between 1332 BC and 1323 BC.
He was the son of Akhenaten and took to the throne at the age of nine or ten.
When he became king, he married his half-sister, Ankhesenpaaten.
He died at around the age of 18 and his cause of death is unknown.
In 1907, Lord Carnarvon George Herbert asked English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter to supervise excavations in the Valley of the Kings.
On 4 November 1922, Carter's group found steps that led to Tutankhamun's tomb.
He spent several months cataloguing the antechamber before opening the burial chamber and discovering the sarcophagus in February 1923.
When the tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, under the patronage of Lord Carnarvon, the media frenzy that followed was unprecedented.
Carter and his team took 10 years to clear the tomb of its treasure because of the multitude of objects found within it.
For many, Tut embodies ancient Egypt's glory because his tomb was packed with the glittering wealth of the rich 18th Dynasty from 1569 to 1315 BC.
Egypt's antiquities chief Zahi Hawass (3rd L) supervises the removal of the lid of the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun in his underground tomb in the famed Valley of the Kings in 2007.