Just days ago, he announced one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the century.
Now a Scots expert has revealed he has discovered not one but two burial tombs believed to belong to legendary Pharoah King Thutmose II.
After a decade of research, Egyptologist Piers Litherland, hailing from Selkirk, has uncovered the final burial site of an Egyptian pharaoh who passed away approximately 3,500 years ago.
Thutmose II was an ancestor of Tutankhamun, whose tomb was famously discovered by another Brit, Howard Carter, in 1922.
Mr Litherland’s double discovery is the first of a Pharoah since then and something which has eluded other archeologists for centuries.
Recent revelations indicated that the initial tomb was located beneath a waterfall within the Theban mountains in Luxor, but it was found to be empty except for scattered debris.
A few days later Mr Litherland and his team of Egyptian archeologists were able to announce that they had found the location of the second tomb.
Piers Litherland, from Selkirk, has discovered the final resting place of Thutmose II
The burial tombs are believed to belong to legendary Pharoah King Thutmose II
They are now hoping it will contain contain the young pharaoh’s mummified body and any valuable artefacts buried with him.
The second tomb has been hiding secretly buried beneath 23 metres of limestone rubble, ash and mud.
Litherland, a scholar from Cambridge University known for his distinctive fedora hat reminiscent of Indiana Jones, expressed, ‘The most plausible location for what lies concealed beneath this extensively laborious mound is believed to be the second tomb of Thutmose II.’
While searching close to the first tomb, Litherland found evidence the contents may have been moved by the king’s wife Hatshepsut to a second tomb.
She in turn became one of Egypt’s greatest pharaohs and is thought to have murdered her husband to gain access to the throne.
Litherland’s team believe it was emptied within six years of the pharaoh’s death in 1479BC. It’s likely Hatshepsut moved her dead spouse because of flooding and to deter grave robbers.
Litherland and his team are now investigating ways to get access to the second tomb safely.
They have already found the remains of beer jars and chisel ends used by workmen who made tombs at that time.
The plan is to slowly detach the rocks and the limestone plaster by hand.
Piers Litherland poses with his team of archaeologists in Egypt during the search for a tomb
Litherland added: ‘We’ve tried to tunnel into it, we’ve tried to shave away the sides, but there are overhanging rocks, so it’s too dangerous.
‘We should be able to take the whole thing down in about another month.’
All kings from the 18th dynasty – of which Thutmose II was part – were buried under waterfalls.
Litherland, who became fascinated with ancient Egypt as a young boy, added: ‘You dream about such things. But like winning the lottery, you never believe it will happen to you.’
The double find was confirmed yesterday by the New Kingdom Research Foundation, a British independent academic body, and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquity who have praised Litherland for his ‘extraordinary’ double discovery.
Sherif Fathy, Egyptian minister of tourism and antiquities, said: ‘This is the first royal tomb to be discovered since the find of King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber in 1922.
‘It is an extraordinary moment for Egyptology and the broader understanding of our human story.’
Mohsen Kamel, the discovery team’s assistant field director, added: ‘The possible existence of a second, and most likely intact, tomb of Thutmose II is an astonishing possibility.’
