King Tut's Tomb: New Rooms Found, Possibly Nefertiti's Burial Chamber

Nefertiti was an Egyptian queen during the 14th century BC; she was the chief wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten, and possibly spent a small stint of time herself as ruler. Her life was a complex one — she is King Tutankhamun's step mother, and though we know what she looks like thanks to a well preserved bust, her remains have never been discovered. That may change soon, though, thanks to a new exciting discovery.

Two new rooms were discovered in King Tutankhamun's tomb, and government officials in the region hope to use radar to determine whether one of the rooms is Nefertiti's burial chamber. Given her familial ties to Tutankhamun, the possibility is distinct. King Tut's remains were found in 1922.

Dr. Nicholas Reeves of the University of Arizona found marks that may show two doorways when reviewing scans of the tomb earlier this year. The extra rooms would make Tut's tomb more comparable in size to other tombs, likewise solving the mystery of why his burial location is smaller than other kings'.

Furthermore, the researcher has found clues that possibly indicate the tomb could have originally been intended for the queen, not King Tut. That is speculation, though, and something that hasn't been evaluated by other Egyptologists.

SOURCE: BBC News