Tutankhamun's tomb may be about to reveal more secrets, with two hidden chambers discovered behind the walls of the Egyptian king's burial chamber.
Egyptian antiquities minister Mamdouh Eldamaty described the findings, which he says he is "90 percent sure of", as "the discovery of the century". "It means a rediscovery of Tutankhamen. It is very important for Egyptian history and for all of the world," he said.
Japanese researcher Hirokatsu Watanabe found evidence for the chambers after using a penetrating radar to scan the tomb, finding the presence of "two empty spaces or cavities" beyond both the North and the West walls of the main burial chamber.
GPS data also showed that door lintels were detected within the cavities, possibly indicating that the walls are hiding entrances.
These spaces, the antiquities ministry claimed, suggest the presence of "metallic and organic substances".
The likely presence of secret rooms could finally lead archeologists to the burial chamber of Queen Nefertiti. Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, but his stepmother's tomb has never been found. Eldamaty suggested the tomb may belong to Kiya or Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun's mother and sister.
The team will now perform further radar studies for more precise results, with a press conference scheduled for 1 April to present their findings.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
