Who Was Queen Nefertiti and Why Has Her Tomb Remained Hidden?
Nefertiti (c. 1370–1330 BCE) was the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV). She played an extraordinary role in the religious revolution her husband initiated—the shift to worship of a single god,
Aten. Reliefs and artwork from the era depict her with unprecedented prominence, often shown performing royal duties alongside the pharaoh, which was highly unusual for the time.
Around the 12th year of Akhenaten’s reign, Nefertiti suddenly vanishes from historical records. Her mummy was never found in the royal tomb at Amarna, fueling theories of a separate burial. Some scholars even suggest she may have ruled briefly as pharaoh under the names Neferneferuaten or Smenkhkare.
The iconic bust of Nefertiti, discovered in 1912 by a German expedition, remains one of the most recognizable symbols of ancient Egyptian beauty and power.
Zahi Hawass’s Latest Announcement: New Excavations in the Valley of the Kings
In early 2026, Zahi Hawass—one of the world’s most celebrated Egyptologists—shared details of the ongoing search for Nefertiti’s tomb in a new documentary.
Current efforts are focused on the eastern section of the Valley of the Kings, near the burial site of another female pharaoh, Hatshepsut.
Though long considered thoroughly explored, recent discoveries of two looted tombs in the area prove that major surprises are still possible.
Hawass is careful to note that there is no definitive proof the newly identified chambers belong to Nefertiti, but the location’s geological and historical features make the possibility highly compelling.
VIDEO: Egyptologist Zahi Hawass discusses his life’s goal—to find Nefertiti’s tomb—in the new documentary “The Man with the Hat.”
Why Finding Nefertiti’s Tomb Would Be a Historic Milestone
If confirmed, the discovery would finally answer one of Egyptology’s longest-standing questions: where was the legendary queen laid to rest?
Earlier theories centered on hidden chambers in Tutankhamun’s tomb (KV62), but advanced radar scans ruled out large voids there.
A verified Nefertiti tomb would shed new light on her fate, the Amarna Period, religious reforms, and the influential role of women in ancient Egyptian power structures.
It would also draw even greater global attention to the Valley of the Kings and Egypt’s extraordinary heritage.
Archaeological discoveries in Egypt continue to captivate the world. Stay tuned—news of a newly identified royal mummy could break at any moment.
YouTube VIDEO. The Man with the Hat – Official Trailer.