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KV63

KV63 is an unfinished ancient Egyptian tomb located in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, Egypt, discovered in 2005 and excavated in 2006, which served as an embalming cache rather than a burial site, containing artifacts related to royal mummification from the late 18th Dynasty. The tomb, designated KV63, was uncovered by a team from the ' Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology, led by archaeologist Otto Schaden (after whose death in 2015 the project has been directed by ), during work on the nearby KV10 (Amenmesse's tomb); it represents the first new discovery in the Valley of the Kings since Howard Carter's finding of KV62 (Tutankhamun's tomb) in 1922. Positioned approximately 14.5 meters from the south edge of KV62 and near KV10, KV63 consists of a vertical shaft descending about 5.5 meters (18 feet) to an L-shaped chamber carved into the bedrock, with plain, unfinished walls lacking inscriptions, hieroglyphs, or royal cartouches that might identify an owner. Upon excavation, the chamber yielded seven wooden coffins, including one smaller gilded example nested within another, painted with gilded faces and resembling those used for burials, all empty of human remains but some containing traces of and . Accompanying these were 28 large storage jars, many sealed with mud and stamped with seals, filled with mummification refuse including salt (used for ), soiled bandages, broken shards, floral collars, and residues of wine and oils—materials consistent with the process. Additionally, fragments of a wooden bed featuring lion-head terminals were found, further indicating ritual preparation for mummification rather than interment. Scholars interpret KV63 as a dedicated embalming cache, akin to (another late 18th Dynasty deposit linked to ), where surplus materials from the mummification of pharaohs or high-ranking individuals were stored after use, possibly to ritually dispose of sacred refuse without reuse or desecration. The artifacts' style and materials, including references to the cult from Akhenaten's reign, date the cache to the or shortly after (circa 1330–1320 BCE), potentially connecting it to the burials of , his family, or contemporaries like . No human remains were present, and the site's ancient breaches suggest it was accessed and possibly repurposed in antiquity, though its exact royal association remains unresolved pending ongoing analyses by experts including . This discovery has advanced understanding of New Kingdom funerary practices, highlighting the specialized handling of materials in the royal .

Discovery and Excavation

Discovery

The Amenmesse Tomb Project, initiated in the early 1990s by archaeologist Otto Schaden to record and preserve the tomb of Pharaoh (KV10) in the Valley of the Kings, West Thebes, Egypt, involved the ' Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology from 1995 onward. This collaborative effort with Egypt's focused on conservation amid ongoing threats to the site's ancient structures. In March 2005, during excavations of 19th Dynasty workmen's huts adjacent to as part of this project, Schaden's team uncovered an unsealed vertical shaft, marking the first new tomb discovered in the Valley of the Kings since Howard Carter's finding of (Tutankhamun's tomb) in 1922. The shaft, detected after a worker noticed rock chips beneath a hut floor, led to a subterranean chamber approximately 28 meters south of and 9 meters east of . Initial exploration revealed the chamber contained seven wooden coffins, pottery jars, and embalming materials, though no human remains were present. The discovery was publicly announced on February 9–10, 2006, by Egypt's , then led by , who emphasized its proximity to Tutankhamun's tomb in initial media reports. This revelation generated widespread interest, highlighting the Valley's continued archaeological potential despite extensive prior explorations.

Excavation Process

The excavation of KV63 commenced following the initial chamber entry in early , after the shaft—measuring approximately 5 meters deep and filled with limestone chips, rocks, and debris—was cleared manually by the team using shovels and sandbags for safety. Led by project director Dr. Otto Schaden, the team employed careful hand excavation to avoid damaging potential artifacts, incorporating modern tools such as pulleys to hoist heavy storage jars (each weighing 100–150 pounds) from the chamber to the surface. Documentation was meticulous, involving high-resolution , detailed of the chamber layout, and cataloging of all items by specialists including artist Roxanne Wilson and associate director Earl Ertman. Subsequent seasons faced significant delays due to Schaden's health issues, with no fieldwork in and limited progress in , shifting focus to preliminary conservation in nearby KV10. The 2009 season, running from January to March, completed the chamber clearing, including the removal of remaining sediment and fragile wooden coffins affected by damage, which required specialized handling to prevent further deterioration. Challenges included the fine filling much of the space, complicating access around clustered artifacts, and the need for on-site conservation coordination with Egypt's (SCA) under Dr. to ensure compliance with export regulations for artifacts destined for . Financiers Roxanne and Bill Wilson supported the effort, enabling the use of collaborators for artifact stabilization. By mid-2009, the chamber was fully cleared, and all artifacts were transported to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo for further study and long-term conservation. To mark the completion and broader research, Hawass hosted the symposium "The Valley of the Kings Since " in in November 2009, where Schaden presented initial findings from KV63 alongside updates from other projects. Schaden continued overseeing post-excavation analysis until his death in 2015, after which assumed field direction, with ongoing studies and conservation efforts continuing as of 2025.

Description

Architecture

KV63 exhibits a straightforward rock-cut typical of certain late 18th Dynasty structures in the Valley of the Kings, comprising a single vertical shaft that descends directly into an L-shaped chamber without intervening corridors or antechambers. This simplified layout deviates from the more elaborate multi-room configurations of royal tombs, adapting elements of standard tomb architecture for a non- function. The overall construction is basic, with no pit, burial niches, or decorative elements, and shows signs of incomplete finishing. The entrance consists of an unsealed vertical shaft excavated into the bedrock, originally concealed beneath debris from adjacent 19th Dynasty workmen's huts. The shaft measures approximately 4.4 meters (14.5 feet) in depth and 1.2 by 1.5 meters (4 by 5 feet) in width, filled with loose limestone fragments and rocks upon . It features an overhang akin to those in other 18th Dynasty tombs, such as KV46 and , and was sealed with mud plaster and stones no later than the early 19th Dynasty. Adjoining the base of the shaft is the L-shaped chamber, with the upper arm of the "L" aligned northward and a westward extension, spanning roughly 6 in length by 5 in width and approximately 2.3 in height. The chamber has a flat ceiling and floor, with walls that are largely well-cut but undecorated and partially rough-hewn at the western end, indicating potential abandonment during construction. The into the chamber was blocked with irregular pieces and mud plaster, bearing evidence of ancient intrusion and subsequent resealing. Compared to contemporaneous royal tombs like KV62, KV63 is notably smaller and more rudimentary, lacking the extended corridors, pillared halls, and painted reliefs that characterize pharaonic burials, which highlights its hasty, utilitarian execution likely tied to the post-Amarna Period activities.

Contents

The contents of KV63 consist primarily of materials associated with the mummification process, discovered within its single chamber, with no human remains present. These artifacts, totaling over 35 major items including coffins and jars, were found in a relatively undisturbed state, suggesting the chamber served as a storage deposit rather than a burial site. Seven wooden , all uninscribed but painted with faces—typically black resin-coated with black faces for five adult-sized examples, and yellow faces on two others including a child-sized one—dominate the finds. One child-sized contained a nested, gilded infant-sized approximately 17 inches long, also empty of remains but featuring high-quality workmanship with glass-inlaid eyes and eyebrows. Rather than bodies, the held (a natural salt used for during ), viscous black resins, oils, fragments, shards, rocks, and debris, indicating reuse as storage containers. The exhibit varying preservation, with some suffering severe damage that reduced portions to powder, while others retained nearly intact wood. Complementing the coffins are 28 large storage jars, standing knee-high and mostly sealed with mud and stoppers, arranged around the chamber. These jars, similar in form to those from other late 18th Dynasty contexts like , contained , black resins, salts, oils, cloth fragments, shards, and rocks, with one jar yielding wine residue comparable to amphorae from Tutankhamun's tomb. The jars themselves remain largely intact, though their organic contents have degraded over time due to environmental exposure. Additional artifacts include a broken wooden with lion-head finials, likely used in ritual embalming procedures and found fragmented inside one jar; scattered baskets; and various ceramics and textiles consistent with late 18th Dynasty styles. Mud seal impressions recovered from the jars bear the of Menkheperre (), suggesting reuse of materials, alongside possible references to the cult. Unlike royal such as KV62, no jewelry or precious metals beyond the gold leaf on the infant coffin were present. Stylistic and material analysis dates the assemblage to the reigns of through , circa 1390–1323 BCE, aligning with the broader transition.

Significance

Interpretations

The primary scholarly interpretation of KV63 posits it as an containing discarded materials from royal mummification workshops during the late 18th Dynasty. The presence of natron-filled jars, resins, and fragments aligns closely with substances used in the process to desiccate and preserve bodies, mirroring the contents of , Tutankhamun's known . This view emphasizes that the chamber served a practical, function for disposal, ensuring such materials—considered ritually impure—were sealed away to preserve the sanctity of nearby royal burials. Alternative theories suggest KV63 functioned as a storage site for materials from a defiled or unfinished , potentially linked to disruptions during the under , with items reused after 's reign. The absence of human remains or sarcophagi with inscriptions rules out its use as a family tomb, distinguishing it from typical royal or elite interments. Materials such as the jars indicate a date in the post-Amarna restoration phase of the late 18th Dynasty, around the time of or slightly later, though no direct evidence ties it to specific individuals like Lady Kiya despite early speculation. Ongoing studies, including publication work by as of 2024, continue to analyze the artifacts, reinforcing the cache interpretation. Expert opinions reinforce the theory while highlighting its novelty. Lorelei Corcoran of the , whose institute led the excavation, interprets the finds as discards from an workshop, underscoring the site's role in funerary logistics rather than burial. Betsy Bryan of describes KV63 as representing a new type of entombment-related deposit, expanding understanding of how byproducts were managed in the Valley of the Kings. , former head of Egypt's , initially speculated a connection, possibly to Tutankhamun's mother, based on proximity to KV62 and impressions, but later endorsed the interpretation after confirming the lack of mummies. These interpretations illuminate broader aspects of ancient Egyptian mummification practices, including the logistical challenges of disposal in sealed chambers to uphold purity during the transition from the disruptions. By isolating refuse, such sites prevented contamination of sacred spaces, revealing the meticulous organization of royal in the late 18th Dynasty.

Relation to Contemporary Tombs

KV63 is situated approximately 25 meters south of , placing it in close physical proximity within the central area of the Valley of the Kings' eastern branch. This location, combined with similarities in ceramic jar forms and seal impressions featuring motifs like the seated —also attested in KV62—suggests that KV63 may have been prepared by the same workshop or personnel involved in Tutankhamun's burial around 1323 BCE. Such shared artisanal practices highlight interconnected royal funerary operations during the late 18th Dynasty. In comparison to , another late 18th Dynasty deposit in , KV63 shares key characteristics as an embalming cache, including large storage jars filled with , resins, and soiled used in mummification processes. is explicitly associated with Tutankhamun's refuse, originally deposited near his tomb entrance before relocation, which supports the interpretation of KV63 as a contemporaneous storage site for similar ritual materials from the same royal context. Both sites lack human remains or sarcophagi intended for , emphasizing their utilitarian role in post-mortuary disposal rather than interment. KV63 exhibits material overlaps with Amarna-period tombs such as , which served as a cache for royal remains possibly including or , through comparable seal designs and ceramic types indicative of late 18th Dynasty production. These connections reflect broader post-Amarna shifts in royal burial rituals, where embalming materials like those in KV63 echo practices seen in , the tomb of that was later reused for family reburials, including Amarna-era individuals hidden during periods of political transition. Such ties underscore evolving mummification and deposition customs amid the restoration of traditional cults after 's reign. Unlike elaborate royal tombs such as KV62, which feature extensive inscriptions, treasures, and intact burials, KV63 contains no hieroglyphic texts, valuable artifacts, or mummified remains, aligning it more closely with functional pits for waste storage than ceremonial sepulchers. Its simple shaft-and-chamber architecture further distinguishes it from the decorated corridors and burial halls typical of pharaonic KV tombs. Within the broader 18th Dynasty cluster of the Valley of the Kings, KV63 contributes to understanding non-burial functions in the , revealing how spaces near major royal tombs were repurposed for ancillary rituals like refuse disposal. Its discovery highlights the Valley's role as a multifaceted complex beyond primary interments, with hidden utilitarian deposits supporting the era's elaborate funerary industry.

Research and Conservation

Conservation Efforts

Following the of KV63 in March 2006, initial on-site conservation measures focused on stabilizing the tomb's organic artifacts to mitigate immediate threats from environmental factors and biological degradation. Conservators applied consolidant, diluted up to 25% in acetone and ethyl alcohol, to reinforce termite-damaged wooden coffins, filling deep cavities with natural fibers and supporting fragile sections with Japanese tissue paper strips. These actions, conducted during the 2006-2009 excavation seasons, also included the installation of an iron gate at the entrance and a perimeter wall in July 2006 to control access and humidity levels within the chamber. Artifact handling emphasized careful removal and laboratory-based to preserve the coffins and associated items, which suffered from ancient conditions and post-excavation . By March 2009, the seven coffins and other materials, including a wooden , were transported via a pulley system to secure at the () magazine near Howard Carter's house and the Mummification Museum in , with samples sent to for analysis. In controlled lab settings, conservators cleaned black resins from coffin surfaces—such as those on Coffins A and E—using non-invasive techniques to reveal inscriptions, while applying Klucel G to protect painted areas and regulating humidity to prevent further wood contraction. These efforts addressed severe infestations that had collapsed structural elements and organic decay accelerated by the tomb's fluctuating . Site protection post-excavation involved sealing the shaft entrance with locks on March 24, 2009, alongside ongoing monitoring of the Valley of the Kings' unstable geology to ensure structural integrity. This integrated KV63 into broader conservation frameworks for the royal , preventing and unauthorized entry. Challenges with degrading wood, textiles, and resins were tackled through international collaboration, including expertise from consultant conservator Nadia Lokma and non-destructive methods to avoid further damage during handling. Key initiatives included a dedicated 2010 field season for detailed resin analysis and coffin repairs, funded primarily by private donors Roxie's and Bill Wilson since 2006, which supported the employment of specialized conservators despite staffing constraints. These measures built on the initial clearance of the tomb's contents, ensuring long-term preservation of KV63's artifacts for study and display.

Ongoing Studies

Following the initial excavations, post-2009 research on KV63 has emphasized scientific analyses of its materials to elucidate their role in ancient Egyptian mummification practices. Studies of plant remains, including floral collars and botanical debris found within the coffins and jars, have confirmed the site's function as an embalming cache, with species such as Nymphaea caerulea (blue lotus) and other Nile Valley flora consistent with ritual use during the late 18th Dynasty. Analyses of natron deposits—primarily sodium carbonate salts used for desiccation—have verified their mummification purpose through examination of composition and distribution inside sealed vessels and coffin interiors, though full lipid profiling of associated resins remains preliminary. In 2010, conservation testing at the Supreme Council of Antiquities' Research Center in Cairo examined resin coatings on Coffin D, identifying a possible lacquer-varnish mixture applied to obscure or protect surfaces, with results supporting non-royal, preparatory workshop production. Stylistic examinations of the coffins have focused on their and to link them to Amarna-era workshops, revealing variations in facial features, inlays, and proportions that span the reigns of to . For instance, E's broad face and eye inlays align with mid-18th Dynasty styles, while others show termite damage and black resin overlays that obscure potential identifying marks, limiting precise attribution but indicating reuse or storage for dummies rather than elite burials. No inscriptions or cartouches further suggest non-royal utility, with comparative studies highlighting parallels to unfinished coffins from Theban ateliers. Digital reconstructions, such as the 2020 Photoshop-based hypothetical restoration of severely damaged C by the Epigraphic Survey, have aided visualization of original designs, using scanned pencil drawings from 2006–2010 seasons to infer full forms. Broader scholarly integration includes KV63's incorporation into the Theban Mapping Project database, where ongoing cataloging of ceramics, sealings, and textiles facilitates cross-referencing with inventories. The 2009 "Valley of the Kings since " symposium at Luxor's Mummification Museum featured papers on embalming caches, with contributions from Otto Schaden and published in 2011, emphasizing KV63's materials in reconstructing 18th Dynasty ritual sequences. Comparative analyses with , another Tutankhamun-era cache, underscore shared elements like bags and wrappings, refining understandings of post-Amarna funerary logistics without human remains for DNA or isotopic testing. Since Otto Schaden's death in 2015, fieldwork has been limited, with assuming directorship in 2012 and prioritizing publication over new digs. Efforts now center on finalizing reports through the and Program, including detailed inventories and 3D models of artifacts to contextualize KV63 within royal mummification workflows. As of August 2024, Ikram and collaborators continue work on the comprehensive publication of KV63 findings.

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