Egypt exhibits world’s only surviving Tutankhamun tomb sealing wall and opens two 18th Dynasty tombs in Luxor

Ancient Egyptian paintings adorn the newly restored tomb wall, inside the recently restored ancient "Samut" (TT417) in the El-Khokha necropolis on the west bank of the Nile in Luxor, where Egyptian authorities have announced the completion of restoration work on two 18th Dynasty tombs belonging to Amenhotep Rabuia and his son Samut, dating back to the reigns of Pharaohs Thutmose III and Thutmose IV, that contain scenes illustrating daily life, funerary practices, and religious imagery from ancient Egypt, in Egypt, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

LUXOR/CAIRO, May 17, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Egyptian authorities on Thursday exhibited the plaster blocking wall of King Tutankhamun’s tomb at the Luxor Museum – displayed to the public for the first time – and inaugurated two restored ancient tombs on the West Bank of the city dating back to the New Kingdom.

“It is a one – of – a – kind artifact – the only currently on display more than 100 years after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb. It is the only surviving artifact of Tutankhamun that the world had never seen before”. – ABDLEGHAFFAR WAGDY, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF LUXOR ANTIQUITIES

Wagdy explained that the wall is unique because almost all Pharaonic were looted, making this the only surviving example of its kind anywhere in the world. The wall was used to secure the entrance of the burial chamber and bears the official stamps of Tutankhamun as well ass seals of the necropolis guards with protecting the tombs from theft, reflecting funerary rituals and the administrative authority associated with the king’s burial.

The original blocking wall is associated with the tomb discovered by British archaeologist Howard Carter, whose full contents were unearthed in 1922. A replica was recently constructed by an Egyptian team.

“Today we are inaugurating two very important tombs that were discovered by chance in 2015”. – HISHAM EL – LEIHY, SECRETARY – GENERAL, EGYPT’S SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES

The two tombs belong to Rabuya and his son Samut, who served as door- keepers of the deity Amun during the 18th Dynasty – the first of the New Kingdom dynasties. The tombs contain scenes depicting agriculture, harvest, crafts, bread, pottery and wine production, as well as funerary rituals.