KV 56
"The Gold Tomb"
Entryway A
See entire tombThe upper part of the shaft is composed of limestone chips and bedrock only on one side. The lower part is cut entirely through limestone bedrock.
Chamber B
See entire tombThe single chamber, if it had been cut totally, would have been the largest chamber in any shaft tomb in the Valley of the Kings. The rear (north) wall is unfinished.
Gate B
See entire tombThe lintel has broken away.
About
About
KV 56 is located in the main wadi. It consists of a deep shaft entryway (A) leading to a large, undecorated and unfinished chamber (B). It contained objects bearing the names of Rameses II, Sety II, as well as Tausert.
Noteworthy features:
A large amount of gold jewelry was discovered in the tomb.
Site History
The identity of the original owner of this tomb is unknown, if indeed KV 56 is a tomb at all. Since most of the objects found inside bear the names of Tausert and Sety II (as well as Rameses II), Maspero believed that all the materials found in KV 56 were taken from KV 14, the tomb of Tausert, which was usurped by Setnakht. Aldred, on the other hand, argued that KV 56 was not a cache, but rather an essentially intact burial of a child of Sety II and Tausert. He based his theory on the fact that near the left (west) wall of chamber B were remains of stucco, gold leaves and inlays, which could be from a Coffin.
Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
Exploration
Conservation
Site Condition
The tomb has been recently re-excavated by the Amarna Royal Tombs Project.
Gold earrings with cartouches of Sety II (artist's impression)
Amulets and rings of Queen Tausert.
Pendants and carnelian amulets of Queen Tausert.
Glazed faience vessel with cartouches of Sety II.
Calcite vessel with ibex head handle.
Tomb entrances and tourist shelter in the central part of the Valley of the Kings.
Tomb entrances and a modern tourist shelter.
Silver bracelets of Queen Tausert (artist's impression)
Plaques and ornaments of Queen Tausert.
Gold necklace.
Mud fragment with gold beads in position.
Gold earrings.
Rings and ornaments of Queen Tausert (reconstruction).
Silver hand coverings.
Gold bracelets and ornaments of Queen Tausert (reconstruction).
Ornaments.
Silver sandal.
Silver bracelets of Queen Tausert.
Calcite vessel with cartouches of Rameses II.
Calcite vessel with cartouches of Rameses II.
Tomb plan.
Bibliography
Thomas, Elizabeth. The Royal Necropoleis of Thebes. Princeton: privately printed, 1966. Pp. 166-167.
Weeks, Kent R. (ed.). Atlas of the Valley of the Kings (= Publications of the Theban Mapping Project, 1). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2000. Map sheet 65.
Wilkinson, Richard H. and Carl Nicholas Reeves. The Complete Valley of the Kings. London: Thames and Hudson, 1996. P. 153.
