Famed archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass believes he is close to discovering the long-lost tomb of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti.
Hawass, an Egyptologist and the former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, boldly predicted he would make the landmark discovery of Nefertiti’s tomb before his retirement in the documentary, “The Man with the Hat,” set to premiere on Tuesday.
“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,” he said in the new documentary about his career.
The discovery of Queen Nefertiti’s tomb could determine whether Hawass, 78, is correct in predicting that she took over the position of her husband, pharaoh Akhenaten, after his death in 1336 B.C.
She has been historically portrayed in ways that only a pharaoh would be, such as smiting an enemy. Yet no one has credibly found her tomb, leaving her role during the period of intense religious turmoil among the greatest mysteries of ancient Egyptian history.
Hawass has recently been excavating with his team in the eastern Valley of the Kings, near where Hatshepsut, a powerful female pharaoh who ruled between 1479 and 1458 B.C., was buried, according to LiveScience.
Despite lacking concrete proof, the “Chasing Mummies” star has a strong feeling that the queen could be buried there.
“There is one area now that we are working in the east valley, near the tomb of Queen Hatshepsut,” Hawass told the outlet.
“I’m hoping that this could be the tomb of Queen Nefertiti … this discovery could happen soon,” he said.
Hawass has been excavating in the region for years, notably discovering two tombs, KV 65 and KV 66. The work could help create a crucial map of the region and determine the likely location of Nefertiti’s tomb.
The famed archaeologist has made near-miss discoveries of Nefertiti in the past, including in 2022 when he said that one of two mummies he unearthed in the Valley of the Kings was likely Nefertiti. This claim was never substantiated, Artnet reported.
“The Man With The Hat” is slated to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
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