New geophysical surveys published Sept. 17 indicate Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62) may adjoin undiscovered chambers that could conceal Queen Nefertiti’s long-lost burial. The study, led by Mamdouh Eldamaty with contributions from Nicholas Reeves, builds on earlier theories that a false wall might hide adjacent rooms. Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities will decide whether to permit careful, minimally invasive exploration—potentially starting in November—though experts caution the spaces could instead be storerooms or lack significant treasures.
Could Nefertiti Be Hidden Behind Tutankhamun? New Surveys Point to Secret Chambers Near KV62
A bust of Nefertiti; Tutankhamun's golden maskCredit: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty; Jiang Qiming/China News Service/VCG via Getty
New geophysical surveys and recent studies have renewed speculation that the long-missing tomb of Queen Nefertiti might lie concealed behind or adjacent to Tutankhamun’s burial chamber (KV62) in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Researchers say the pattern of voids and anomalies detected around the Boy King’s tomb suggests it could be part of a larger complex rather than a single, isolated burial.
What the Research Found
The results, published online Sept. 17 in a study led by Mamdouh Eldamaty of Ain Shams University, combine multiple independent geophysical surveys and structural analyses of the area surrounding KV62. Co-author Nicholas Reeves — who first proposed in 2015 that a false wall in Tutankhamun’s burial chamber might conceal additional rooms — is among the team advocating further investigation.
A mural of NefertitiCredit: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty
“If a hidden complex is confirmed, it could rank among the most transformative archaeological discoveries of the modern era,” said Eldamaty.
Researchers point to anomalies that could indicate additional corridors or chambers immediately adjacent to Tutankhamun’s tomb. Reeves and others suggest that some walls in the tomb may be deliberate false partitions, a technique ancient Egyptian builders sometimes used to conceal rooms.
Background
Howard Carter famously discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. The burial chamber is unusually small for a pharaoh, which fueled earlier theories that the space was adapted or altered when Tutankhamun died young, possibly blocking or repurposing deeper areas of an originally larger tomb complex.
Howard Carter and an assistant in Tutankhamun's burial vault in 1922Credit: ullstein bild via Getty
Expert Caution and Possible Outcomes
While many archaeologists find the new data "very tantalizing," experts urge caution. Ray Johnson, former director of the Epigraphic Survey at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, noted the detected voids could be storerooms rather than another royal burial. UCLA Egyptologist Kara Cooney warned that even if Nefertiti’s tomb is found, it may be stripped of many original valuables—some scholars think items could have been reused in Tutankhamun’s burial.
What Happens Next
Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities is expected to decide whether to authorize a careful investigation later this month. If approved, the initial phase would use minimally invasive techniques—precision drilling to insert miniature remote-controlled probes fitted with cameras—to inspect suspected spaces. Project co-author George Ballard said such exploratory work could begin as soon as November if permission is granted.
Significance: Confirming additional chambers near KV62 would be a major archaeological development, offering new insights into late 18th-dynasty burial practices and the fates of prominent figures like Nefertiti. However, only careful, controlled exploration can determine whether these anomalies hide a royal tomb or something less sensational.
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