Editor| Nefertiti Image: Newyorker |
The unknown fate of Egypt’s Queen Nefertiti is one of the mysteries that haven boggling the minds of archaeologists since ages. According to a recently proposed theory, she might just be hiding around King Tut’s chamber. Adding more buzz to the theory, Mamdouh El Damati, the Egyptian Antiquities Minister on Thursday announced that archaeologists are 90 percent sure that they have discovered two new chambers behind Tut’s tomb. The findings are based up on the radar scan of the King’s chamber.
Nicolas Reeves, a British archaeologist had mentioned in August about his speculation being that Nefertiti might be resting in one of the chambers behind Tut’s resting place.
El Damati said that the scan has revealed presence of organic and metallic material. By the end of the month experts will perform one more scan to determine the chambers’ size and walls’ thickness. The minister added that they will not proceed with digging unless it is confirmed that the chambers actually exist.
Last year some very high resolution images were published. Reeves analyzed them very extensively and has found some cracks in the walls that might hint towards the ‘ghost doorways’ to the unrecognized chambers.
Tutankhamun’s tomb when compared to other tombs is found to be “less than appropriate” in size for a king of his stature. This adds more curiosity to the already complicated scene. Reeves speculated that it might be an extension to an already existing tomb that might have been designed initially for a queen. But, when Tut died at an early age of 19 years, the tomb was repurposed to bury him. Since last year, Reeves and his team is looking for a doorway on the northern wall that would lead to a secret chamber.
Nefertiti rules Egypt with her husband King Amenhotep IV, but she suddenly disappeared after ruling for 12 years like she never existed. Whether she died or became a co – regent, still boggles the minds of Egyptologists.
El Damanti said, “We must find a way to protect the tomb of Tutankhamun. Does that mean we will dig from above, below or from the side? We don’t know.”
Howard Carter discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922. Even though he was a minor pharaoh, finding his tomb was a great discovery.
El Damati says, “When we find Nefertiti, I think it will be more important than the discovery of King Tutankhamun himself.”
Zainab Asif
Damodar Kalyan
