’90 Percent Chance’ King Tutankhamun’s Tomb Holds a Hidden Chamber: Egypt’s Antiquities Minister | Egyptian Streets
My report from the press conference
The press conference opened with a short film showing the
radar scanning of the room with sponsorship of the National Geographic. Dr
Mandouh stressed the speed that things had happened from the announcement on
Oct 1st that an investigation would happen. The physical inspection
and presentation to Egyptian officials by Prof Reeves till today the results of
the raw data scan.
radar scanning of the room with sponsorship of the National Geographic. Dr
Mandouh stressed the speed that things had happened from the announcement on
Oct 1st that an investigation would happen. The physical inspection
and presentation to Egyptian officials by Prof Reeves till today the results of
the raw data scan.
Dr Mamdouh al-Damaty, Dr Nicholas Reeves, Dr Hirokatsu
Watanabe
Watanabe
They tested the equipment inside KV5 (the sons of Ramses II)
and then in the known parts of the Tutankhamen tomb. The valley comprises of
different kind of rocks and condition of those rocks so it was important to get
a benchmark before the investigation begun. As KV5 is not open to the public
the test could be proved and the subsequent trial in Tutankhamen where the
antechamber/annex were tested. This proved the accuracy of the equipment.
and then in the known parts of the Tutankhamen tomb. The valley comprises of
different kind of rocks and condition of those rocks so it was important to get
a benchmark before the investigation begun. As KV5 is not open to the public
the test could be proved and the subsequent trial in Tutankhamen where the
antechamber/annex were tested. This proved the accuracy of the equipment.
Then the walls of the burial chamber of Tutankhamen were
test and both the north and west walls showed positive results. The west results showed a void but the primary results from the north wall were so conclusive that conclusions could be drawn from the
primary raw date. More data analysis is need and that will take approximately
one month but they are 90% sure that there is a chamber behind the north wall
test and both the north and west walls showed positive results. The west results showed a void but the primary results from the north wall were so conclusive that conclusions could be drawn from the
primary raw date. More data analysis is need and that will take approximately
one month but they are 90% sure that there is a chamber behind the north wall
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| Dr Mamdouh |
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| Dr Reeves |
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| Raw data with blue area showing a chamber |
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| Dr Wantabee |
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| Nick Reeves answering questions |
This investigation started with the scan by Factum Arte. It cannot
be stressed to highly how much we owe to their work and express our thanks for puting
the work online. This enable Nicholas Reeves to study these high resolution
scans and come to the conclusion that there was evidence of a doorway. The west
wall is X in the investigation and the north Y. The west is where a Tutankhamen
era storage room is proposed and the north where Dr Reeves proposes a tomb
within a tomb. The raw data from the west is a little inconclusive but there is
definite void however the north wall definitely shows evidence of a huge void
with straight walls. Other evidence shows chisel marks in the ceiling and even
the possible evidence of a service door.
be stressed to highly how much we owe to their work and express our thanks for puting
the work online. This enable Nicholas Reeves to study these high resolution
scans and come to the conclusion that there was evidence of a doorway. The west
wall is X in the investigation and the north Y. The west is where a Tutankhamen
era storage room is proposed and the north where Dr Reeves proposes a tomb
within a tomb. The raw data from the west is a little inconclusive but there is
definite void however the north wall definitely shows evidence of a huge void
with straight walls. Other evidence shows chisel marks in the ceiling and even
the possible evidence of a service door.
Further investigation has to be done step by step, the tomb
has to be protested and as much non-destructive investigation done as possible.
If they go into the tomb the scenes must be protested and save. Once the raw
data is analysed then 3d images as possible. On the west wall we don’t know the
size and further analysis should give that.
has to be protested and as much non-destructive investigation done as possible.
If they go into the tomb the scenes must be protested and save. Once the raw
data is analysed then 3d images as possible. On the west wall we don’t know the
size and further analysis should give that.
A slide was shown and it was stated that this just shows raw
data but def. confirms the huge void on the north side. This void is so large
and even the raw data makes it immediately obvious. Dr Hirokatsu Watanabe said
with his 40 years’ experience he did not have to wait for the analysis to
confirm with certainty there is something there.
data but def. confirms the huge void on the north side. This void is so large
and even the raw data makes it immediately obvious. Dr Hirokatsu Watanabe said
with his 40 years’ experience he did not have to wait for the analysis to
confirm with certainty there is something there.
Dr Mamdouh said there were more secrets and he believed that
possibilities are Kiya or Meriaton, Dr Reeves believes it could be
Smenkhare/Nefertit. He also believes the valley has more tombs either royal or
more likely commoners.
possibilities are Kiya or Meriaton, Dr Reeves believes it could be
Smenkhare/Nefertit. He also believes the valley has more tombs either royal or
more likely commoners.
Previous techniques of excavation have been to go to the
cliff edge and go down and then you hit bedrock but Carters excavation (although
he didn’t realise it) reveals the valley is stepped so things could have been
missed.
cliff edge and go down and then you hit bedrock but Carters excavation (although
he didn’t realise it) reveals the valley is stepped so things could have been
missed.
Dr Reeves stated strongly that work had to proceed slowly
and carefully. Archaeology is not a race and by its very nature it is
destructive so you only get one go. Currently even the air inside this chamber
had pollen, dust etc. to reveal so you can’t drill a hole and stick in a fibre
optic as that will contaminate it. It has to be hermetically sealed and analysed.
Salah Elmasekh, Egyptian archaeologist, made the point that this was a unique discovery as it is the very first discovered using high technology techniques and equipment and makes a case for ALL tombs to be investigated using this technique
and carefully. Archaeology is not a race and by its very nature it is
destructive so you only get one go. Currently even the air inside this chamber
had pollen, dust etc. to reveal so you can’t drill a hole and stick in a fibre
optic as that will contaminate it. It has to be hermetically sealed and analysed.
Salah Elmasekh, Egyptian archaeologist, made the point that this was a unique discovery as it is the very first discovered using high technology techniques and equipment and makes a case for ALL tombs to be investigated using this technique
