QV 70
Nehesy*
About
About
Attributed to the 18th Dynasty dignitary and commander of the troops, Nehesy, QV 70 is an undecorated, single-chambered shaft tomb on the north side of the main Wadi. The entrance to the tomb lies between QV 71 and the retaining wall. The shaft is relatively shallow at 3 m and has a modern, cemented brick surround, deeper on the upslope side, and a metal grill without mesh.
Elizabeth Thomas mentions the tomb was filled at the time of her visit, though still identifiable. The Franco-Egyptian Mission cleared the tomb in 1984.
Site History
The tomb was constructed in the 18th Dynasty.
Dating
This site was used during the following period(s):
Exploration
Conservation
Site Condition
According to the GCI-SCA, the tomb is in good condition, with stable rock, despite a fault and fractures running through the tomb. Salt infill is present in open fractures. The shaft is partially filled with debris (mostly sand) that spills into the chamber. Walls have adhered mud almost to the ceiling from previous flooding. A number of mud wasps' nests are present on the ceiling and upper part of walls, as are scattered droppings (probably from bats).
Hieroglyphs
Nehesy
Commander of the Troops, Nehesy ("the Southerner")
imy-r mSa nHsi
Area of Entrances to QV67, QV68, QV69, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, QV74, QV75, QV82, QV83, QV96, QVU1, and QVU2. Bridge and signage for QV66 in foreground.
Bridge leading to QV66 with entrances to QV64, QV65, QV67, QV69, QVU1, QVU2, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, QV74, QV82, and QV96 in background.
Entrances to QV69, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, and QV96. Visitors shelter for QV66 and grotto in the background.
Entrances of QV65, QV67, QV69, QVU1, QVU2, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, and QV96. Grotto and QV66 with visitors shelter.
Entrances to QV71 and QV70.
Entrances to QV71 and QV70.
Entrance to QV70.
Entrance to QV70.
Entrances to QV64, QV65, QV69, QV70, QV72, QV82, QV96, and QVU2 with entrance to QV in the background. Further back the path to Dayr al Madinah and the shrine to Ptah and Meretseger.
Area in front of QV66 with entrances to QV65, QV67, QV68, QV69, QVU1, QVU2, QV70, and QV71.
Northeastern side of the main wadi with entrances to QVU1, QVU2, QV67, QV68, QV69, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, QV74, QV75, QV82, QV83, QV96, and bridge and signage for QV66.
View of the northeastern side of the main wadi with entrances to QVU1, QVU2, QV63, QV64, QV65, QV67, QV69, QV70, QV71, QV72, QV73, QV74, QV96, and QV66 with visitors shelter.
View of the northeastern side of the main wadi with entrances to QV70, QV71, QV73, and QV96
View of the northeastern side of the main wadi with entrances to QV70, QV71, and QV96
QV49 and QV50 in the foreground with the southeastern side of the main wadi, southern branch, and entrance to the QV in the background.
The shaft entrance of QV 70. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View of the main chamber. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Detail of the ceiling in the main chamber with rock shift. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Detail of the ceiling in the main chamber with rock shift. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Detail of the ceiling in the main chamber with rock shift and salt efflorescence. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Detail of crack and shift from the ceiling of the main chamber into the wall. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
A corner of the main chamber. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View from the shaft into the main chamber. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View up the shaft entrance. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
View down into the shaft entrance. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The shaft entrance of QV 70 with modern masonry surround and metal grill. © Getty Conservation Institute and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The shaft entrance of QV 70 with modern masonry surround and metal grill. © 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. Western Thebes and the Queens of the Two Lands in the New Kingdom. In: Kent R. Weeks (Ed.). The Treasures of the Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Temples of the Theben West Bank in Luxor. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2001: 272-93.
Thomas, Elizabeth. The Royal Necropoleis of Thebes. Princeton: privately printed, 1966.
