The tantalising possibility that the final resting place of the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti has been pinpointed has been met with cautious excitement by archaeologists and historians. If a tomb is found, there will be genuine celebrations in that community, and a very tangible spin-off for the modern Egyptian economy.
Dr Nicholas Reeves, of the University of Arizona, believes that the queen’s burial chamber is behind a hidden doorway in the tomb of her stepson, Tutankhamun, in Luxor’s Valley of the Kings. If Dr Reeves is right, it may be filled with riches that eclipse those of Tutankhamun, who died about seven years after Nefertiti and was a comparatively minor figure.
Another celebrated tomb in Luxor would provide a powerful kick-start to Egyptian’s stalled tourism industry, and any treasures it might contain would undoubtedly generate substantial income as part of blockbuster shows in museums around the world.
