QV 21
Anonymous
Entryway A
See entire tombThe well-cut large shaft has a cement-coated masonry surround at its opening as well as a metal grill with mesh.
Entrance to QV21 with QV 19 in the background.
Shaft entrance of QV 21. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Chamber B
See entire tombA large, well-cut, rectangular undecorated chamber situated perpendicular to the tomb shaft (A).
View into Chamber C from Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of ceiling in Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of gateway between Chamber B and Chamber C. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Chamber C
See entire tombA well-cut rectangular undecorated chamber, situated somewhat parallel to chamber B on a slightly different axis, and perpendicular to the shaft (A), with some broken and uneven stone. There is also evidence of ceiling collapse in this chamber.
About
About
QV 21 lies on a slight slope on the south side of the main Wadi, along the principal pathway. It has two large, elongated chambers (B) and (C) on different axes. The large shaft (A) has a cement-coated masonry surround at its opening, as well as a metal grill with mesh.
Elizabeth Thomas (1959-60) described this tomb as one of the "crosswise" tombs with a unique plan. She reported that the tomb was well cut in good rock with a deep shaft. At the time of her visit, a number of objects were present. The tomb was last cleared in 1986 by the Franco-Egyptian Mission. Based on the archaeological material they recovered, the tomb appears to have been reused during the Third Intermediate, Roman, and Coptic periods.
Site History
The tomb was constructed in the 18th Dynasty. Based on the archaeological material recovered from the tomb by the Franco-Egyptian Mission, it was reused in the Third Intermediate, Roman, and Coptic Periods.
Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
Exploration
Conservation
Conservation History
Previous efforts conducted by the Egyptian Antiquities Organization (EAO) include stabilizing the rock walls and ceiling with mortar.
Site Condition
According to the GCI-SCA, the tomb is cut into an area of intersection of two different types of rock: shale and marl. The horizon between the two rock types runs through the tomb, and is relatively vertical in chamber (C). Fracturing and loss of both types of rock are widespread. The tomb was deemed to be structurally sound. Bat droppings were observed by the GCI-SCA assessment team. Given its proximity to the main Wadi, QV 21 is susceptible to flooding, and flood waters last entered in 1994.
Old electricity building and entrances to QV18, QV19, QV22, QV21, QV20, QV23, QV25, and QV26
Entrances to QV20 and QV21 in foreground, with QV96, QV73, QV72, QV74, QV82, QV75 and QV83 in background
Signage in front of QV20, QV21, QV22, and QV23 with old electricity building in background
Entrances to QV21, QV22, and QV23 with old electricity building in background.
Entrances to QV21, QV22, and QV23 with old electricity building in background
Entrance to QV21 with QV 19 in the background.
Entrances to QV20 and QV21
Entrances to QV20 and QV21
Entrance to QV30 in foreground with view of the main wadi in the background towards the entrance of QV.
Entrances of QV19, QV20, and QV22.
Entrances to QV20, QV21, and QV22
Entrances to QV19, QV20, QV21, and QV22
QV49 and QV50 in the foreground with the southeastern side of the main wadi, southern branch, and entrance to the QV in the background.
Entrances to QV19, QV20, QV21, QV22, and QV23
Entrances to QV19, QV20, QV21 and QV22
Entrances to QV17, QV19, QV20, QV21, and QV22 with visitors shelter at QV51 and QV66 in background
Entrances to QV19, QV20, QV21, and QV22
Shaft entrance of QV 21. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View into Chamber C from Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of ceiling in Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of Chamber B. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of gateway between Chamber B and Chamber C. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Articles
Tomb Numbering Systems in the Valley of the Queens and the Western Wadis
Geography and Geology of the Valley of the Queens and Western Wadis
Bibliography
CNRS mission report: Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France). Rapport d'activité 1987-1988 URA no. 1064, 1987-1988.
Demas, Martha and Neville Agnew (eds). Valley of the Queens. Assessment Report. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, 2012, 2016. Two vols.
Macke, André, Christiane Macke-Ribet, Christian Leblanc, and Jacques Connan. Ta set neferou: une necropole de Thebes-Ouest et son histoire: momification, chimie des baumes, anthropologie, paléopathologie. Vol. 5. Cairo: Nubar Printing House, 2002.
Thomas, Elizabeth. The Royal Necropoleis of Thebes. Princeton: privately printed, 1966.
