Tutankhamun's 3,300-year-old tomb is now in its most fragile state since it was discovered in 1922, according to a new scientific study. A report published this month in the journal Heritage Science warns that the tomb in Luxor, Egypt, has sustained structural damage, with widening cracks and a growing risk of collapse.
Researchers identified a fracture line running across the ceilings of both the entrance corridor and burial chamber. They noted that the shale rock in which the famous tomb was excavated has been expanding and contracting.
According to the study, humidity has climbed to over 80% inside the tomb, well above the 60% considered safe for painted plaster, leading to peeling wall paintings and the spread of mold. Preservation experts believe the damage can be traced back to a sudden flood in October 1994 that inundated the Valley of the Kings, flooding the tomb and introducing new cracks while raising humidity levels.
Prof. Saeed Hamada, head of the Department of Architectural Heritage Conservation at Cairo University, stated that cracks first recorded after the 1994 flood have continued to widen with every new rainstorm. He emphasized the need for urgent intervention and rigorous scientific assessments to mitigate the risks to royal tombs across the Valley of the Kings.
Field measurements gathered for the study documented recurrent swelling and contraction of the tomb's stone walls, causing stone flakes to detach and a web of cracks to form in the ceiling of the burial chamber. Geologists cautioned that pressure from the mountainside could result in sudden rock detachment during heavy rainstorms.
A conservation project carried out between 2009 and 2014 changed the visitor entry method and added a new ventilation system. However, researchers noted that these upgraded systems are proving inadequate in the face of climate change, more intense storms, and continued tourist pressure.
The study also highlights similar threats to nearby monuments, including the Hatshepsut Temple at Deir el-Bahari, where unstable slopes and recurring flash floods have swept debris into decorated chambers and saturated the ground. "Where are the regular reports tracking endangered sites and outlining protection measures?" asked Imad Mahdi of the Egyptian Archaeological Association.
