'Could It Really Exist?'... Archaeological Community Focuses on Secret Passage Behind Tutankhamun's Tomb

Analysis Using Microgravity Survey Raises Possibility of Hidden Spaces

Nefertiti Tomb Hypothesis from 2015 Back in the Spotlight

The hypothesis that undiscovered corridors and chambers may exist behind the walls of the tomb of ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun is once again gaining attention.

On the 17th (local time), the international journal Nature published the results of a related study by a research team comprising experts from Ain Shams University, the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Egypt, and British geophysicists.

The researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of ground-penetrating radar (GPR), microgravity surveys, and electrical resistivity surveys on Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) and the surrounding bedrock. As a result, they identified a structure behind the tomb’s northern burial chamber wall that appears to be a corridor about 2 meters wide. The researchers analyzed that this space might not simply be empty, but could instead be filled with debris such as stone or soil.

Mummy in the tomb of Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Outside the tomb, the researchers also conducted more than 1,200 microgravity measurements across an area of about 35 square meters. They discovered a rectangular low-density structure arranged parallel to the northern wall of the tomb. The team considered the possibility that this feature could correspond to an artificially created room or corridor.

In particular, the researchers are focusing on a structure they have designated as "anomaly 7." Within a largely low-density region, there is a high-density area that is nearly rectangular, which the researchers interpret as a room that may contain objects or artifacts. However, the project leader also emphasized that "the current survey results are close to the detection limits," and further verification is necessary.

These findings have brought renewed attention to a hypothesis proposed in 2015 by archaeologist Nicholas Reeves. At the time, Reeves pointed out that Tutankhamun’s tomb was unusually small for a pharaoh’s burial chamber and that its structure was distinctive. He cited cracks in the northern wall and changes in the murals as evidence that this wall could be a ‘false wall’ constructed to conceal a passage to another space.

Reeves argued that Tutankhamun’s sudden death resulted in a hurried modification of a pre-existing royal tomb for his burial, and that beyond the wall might lie a larger burial chamber originally intended for another member of the royal family. He especially attached significance to the possibility that the space beyond belonged to Nefertiti, who was both a queen and a pharaoh in ancient Egypt.

Interior view of Tutankhamun's tomb. Lotte Tour Development

The current research team also suggested there is a possibility that beyond the northern wall lies a royal burial complex consisting of a corridor and five to six additional chambers. According to their estimates, this structure could stretch about 25 to 30 meters north of the currently known tomb.

However, experts have noted that while these results contain intriguing clues, there is still insufficient data to draw definitive conclusions. Christopher Gaffney, an archaeology and GPR specialist at the University of Bradford, commented, "This study is fascinating, but it is still not enough to reach a decisive conclusion."

Accordingly, the research team is pursuing measures to confirm the existence of an actual space. If approved by the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt, a plan is being considered to drill small holes around the tomb and insert a miniature camera device to inspect the interior.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.