QV 85
Unfinished*
About
About
QV 85 is located on the eastern branch of the main Wadi, between QV 51 and QV 52. The tomb is very shallow and unfinished. The Ramp walls were cut with partially finished surfaces. According to Christian Leblanc, the tomb was started in the 20th Dynasty and construction was stopped because of poor rock quality in the area.
Site History
Excavation of the tomb began in the 20th Dynasty and was abandoned due to the poor quality of the rock in the area.
Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
Exploration
Conservation
Site Condition
According to the GCI-SCA, the marl rock of QV 85 is weathered and exposed to rainfall. There are vertical fractures at south and north corners and an area of loss in the east wall of the Ramp. Exposure to water and weathering damage and the poor quality of rock that the tomb is cut into largely contributed to its deterioration. The GCI-SCA has recommended to leave the tomb as is, since it is only a shallow trench.
Entrance to QV51, QV52, QV53, QV55, and unfinished QV85 in background with workers' huts in foreground.
Entrance to QV52 and QV85
Entrance to QV52 and QV85
Entrance to QV85
Entrance to QV52 and QV85
Entrance to QV85, QV51, and visitors shelter.
Entrance to QV52 and visitors shelters at QV55 in background. Foreground includes coptic remnants, workers’ huts, QV58, QV59, QV60, QV61, QV62, QV85, QV80, and QV66 with visitors shelter.
General view of the main wadi towards QV66 with entrances to QV51, QV52, QV58, QV59, QV80, QV85, workers’ huts, and visitors shelter at QV66
General view of the main wadi from northwestern side of the main wadi with entrances to QV51, QV52, QV58, QV59, QV80, and QV85. Workers’ huts, visitors shelter at QV66, and lime kiln in the foreground.
View up the main wadi with grotto in the background. View of the visitors shelter and entrances of QV52, QV53, QV55, QV85, and lime kiln.
View of the tomb entrance. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of the tomb entrance. © 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
Demas, Martha and Neville Agnew (eds). Valley of the Queens. Assessment Report. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, 2012, 2016. Two vols.
Leblanc, Christian. Architecture et évolution chronologique des tombes de la Vallée des Reines. Bulletin de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale du Caire 89 (1989): 227-247.