EGYPT TO LOOK INTO NEFERTITI TOMB CLAIM YOU READ HERE FIRST

LAST month this blog broke the story that renowned Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves believes King Tutankhamun's tomb was built for Queen Nefertiti … and that Nefertiti's intact sarcophagus may be in a secret chamber behind a hidden doorway.

Our story (which you can READ HERE) made headlines around the world … and now the Egyptian government is taking Reeves's theory seriously and has promised to look into it further.

Writing in a paper published at ACADEMIA.EDU, Reeves bases his theory on new, high-definition color photography of painted scenes in Tutankhamun's burial chamber released in recent months online by Madrid-based art-replication specialists Factum Arte.

He believes he has discovered a secret doorway in a false wall within the tomb of King Tutankhamun. On the other side, he speculates, is the undisturbed burial of the tomb’s original owner - Queen Nefertiti, the wife of the "heretic" pharaoh, Akhenaten.

Since then the world’s media has been frothing at the prospect of the discovery of the century ... the tomb of one of Egypt’s most famous queens.

Archaeologists' reactions have ranged from cautiously hopeful to outright skepticism. 

Leading the charge for the skeptics is Zahi Hawass, former head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

He passionately states: "Reeves' study is a theory for fame and publicity and not based on archaeological or scientific evidences."

Less accusational, yet similarly doubtful, is Bristol University Egyptologist Aidan Dobson: "It's a long way from observing possible outlines of doors to the conclusion that one leads to the burial chamber of Nefertiti."

Reeves is the first to acknowledge that his is just a theory at this stage: "Each piece of evidence on its own is not conclusive, but put it all together and it's hard to avoid my conclusion,” And if his theory is right, then it's “potentially the biggest archaeological discovery ever made.”

Now Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Mamdouh el-Damaty has responded to Reeves' claims. He plans to speak with Dr. Reeves and conduct several studies to determine if this new hypothesis is correct.

So that's good. It shouldn't be too difficult for non-invasive radar to at least determine if there is a void behind the walls of Tutankhamun's burial chamber. What they'll do next if there are indications that there IS something there is another matter. But that's certainly a good problem to have.