Researchers Surveyed North Wall of KV62 in 2024
A survey of Tutankhamun's burial chamber investigated potential hidden rooms using geophysical sensors.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Physics
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Archaeologist Mamdouh Eldamaty led a team through 2024 to scan the north wall of KV62, the burial chamber of Tutankhamun. The research-stage study utilized ground-penetrating radar and micro-gravity measurements to identify potential voids.
Why it matters
The investigation aims to verify a long-standing hypothesis regarding hidden chambers within the Amarna-period burial complex. Data analysis remains ongoing as researchers seek to confirm the presence of structural anomalies.
The team employed ground-penetrating radar operating between 400 MHz and 900 MHz, supplemented by high-frequency scans up to 3 GHz. Signal fidelity was impacted by air gaps between the radar antennae and the stone wall surface.
The players
Mamdouh Eldamaty
An archaeologist who led the research team in the multi-year geophysical investigation of KV62.
The details
The survey focused on detecting door-seam anomalies and density variations using non-invasive geophysical methods. Ground-penetrating radar sends electromagnetic pulses into the wall to map subsurface reflections, while micro-gravity surveys measure infinitesimal differences in gravitational pull to infer mass distribution changes behind the rock. Researchers now propose drilling a small-diameter borehole through the wall to insert cameras for direct visual confirmation.
Timeline
The geophysical survey was conducted throughout 2023 and 2024.
Approval for a proposed drilling process is anticipated in the coming months.
The Tech Race
The study extends the Amarna-period burial complex research program by applying modern geophysical sensing to identify architectural features. The current effort remains a research-stage inquiry into potential structural modifications dating back to antiquity.
The research remains in an investigative phase with no current public access or visual findings available. Future visibility depends on successful regulatory approval for invasive drilling and subsequent analysis of interior camera imagery.
The takeaway
The team is currently awaiting regulatory approval to transition from non-invasive scanning to invasive verification. Watch for future reports on the drilling authorization status as the researchers attempt to validate their density-anomaly data.
Further reading
Explore related analytical methodologies in the Physics section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kenya Today.
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