KV61, Ancient tomb in Valley of the Kings, Egypt
KV61 is an ancient tomb in the Valley of the Kings consisting of a single, irregularly shaped chamber accessed by descending a shaft into the bedrock. The burial room contains no wall paintings, inscriptions, or decorative elements of any kind.
The tomb was discovered in 1910 by Ernest Harold Jones during excavations commissioned by Theodore Davis, with the shaft found completely sealed. Investigation revealed the burial chamber had never been used, despite the builders carefully closing the entrance.
The tomb represents construction methods of ancient Egyptian burial sites, featuring a simple shaft design common in the Valley of the Kings.
The entrance lies below current ground level and requires protective covers to safeguard it from seasonal flooding and debris accumulation. Access conditions may vary depending on weather and ongoing preservation work, so visitors should check local conditions before planning a visit.
The site presents a puzzling pattern: it was completely sealed and blocked with stone, yet no burial ever took place inside. This suggests the chamber may have been reserved for a future burial, or that circumstances shifted and the grave was ultimately unneeded.
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