Copyright New York Post
These ancient tombs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. The tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt is plagued with cracks, water damage and fungi, sparking fears that “disaster could strike at any moment” for the legendary 3,300-year-old burial site, experts have said. The unfortunate deterioration and potential collapse were detailed in an alarming new study published in Nature by archaeologists with the University of Cairo. “There are current and future risks facing the cemetery, which will affect its structural integrity in the long term,” study author Sayed Hemeda, a Professor of Preservation of Architectural Heritage at Cairo University, told the Daily Mail. The tomb, one of the smallest royal burials in the Valley Of The Kings in Luxor, was first discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the Independent reported. However, researchers fear King Tut’s tomb may not stand the test of time. Hemada noted that the tombs’ location at the foothills of the valley’s mountains exposed them to flash floods resulting from heavy rains that carried “debris, stones and soil along the way.” The catalyst for this potential catastrophe was a major flood in 1994 that caused water to seep in, raised humidity levels, and prompted the growth of fungi that were eating into the ornate paintings decorating the interior. Particularly problematic is a major fracture traversing the ceiling of the burial chamber and entrance. This fissure allowed rainwater to “penetrate and worsen the cracks,” placing the ceiling under a strain that exceeds the capacity of the Esna shale that comprises it. This rock expands and contracts with changes in humidity, heightening the risk of deformation and collapse. While the tomb won’t crumble in the near future, Hemeda said he feared that the “cemetery may not last for thousands of years as it was built.” Worst of all, little is being done to prevent this tragic eventuality. Study authors stressed the need to “minimize humidity fluctuations to preserve the tomb by regulating its internal environment and implementing a focused program of reinforcement and conservation.” Unfortunately, humidity damage isn’t the only factor threatening these archaeological marvels. Meanwhile, Mohamed Atia Hawash, Professor of Architectural Conservation at Cairo University’s Faculty of Archaeology, explains that the mountains surrounding the Valley Of The Kings are riddled with large fractures, which could cause rock masses to break off and collapse onto the tombs. “A disaster could strike at any moment, and if the Valley of the Kings is to be preserved, action must be taken before it is too late,” Professor Hawash warned, adding that the tomb’s plight served as a “stark warning that must be heeded.” The professor floated several possible solutions to help stave off the chambers’ demise, including reducing the load on the mountain above the tomb and outfitting the space the removable supports to prevent a collapse. Better known in archaeological circles as KV 62, the tomb of King Tut was actually not thought to have been initially designed as a royal burial ground, but was rather haphazardly repurposed after the young Pharaoh died at 18 or 19 around 1324 BCE. Nonetheless, the repository remains a treasure trove. The ancient mausoleum comprises four main chambers: the entrance, the antechamber where furniture and chariots were discovered, the burial chamber holding three nested coffins, and the treasury, which once harbored some 5,000 artifacts, ranging from the ruler’s famed golden mask to gilded statues and funerary objects.
