Nicholas Reeves is a British Egyptologist and archaeologist born in 1956, a specialist in the 18th Dynasty and the Valley of the Kings. He became famous for his research on Tutankhamun and his theory that the tomb of Queen Nefertiti lies hidden behind the walls of the young pharaoh's own tomb.
Nicholas Reeves(1956 — ?)
Carl Nicholas Reeves
Royaume-Uni
6 min read
Frequently asked questions
Key Facts
- Born in 1956 in the United Kingdom, he specialized in the Egypt of the New Kingdom and the 18th Dynasty.
- Author of the reference work “The Complete Tutankhamun” (1990) about the pharaoh and his treasure.
- In 2015, he published the hypothesis that Tutankhamun's tomb (KV62) might conceal chambers containing the burial of Nefertiti.
- His work revived radar survey campaigns in the Valley of the Kings to test this theory.
- He served as a curator at the British Museum and led archaeological missions in Egypt.
Works & Achievements
Richly illustrated reference work on the king, his tomb and his treasure, which established Reeves's reputation with both the general public and specialists.
Comprehensive survey of the Theban royal necropolis, now a classic for understanding the tombs of the New Kingdom.
Analytical biography of the heretic pharaoh, placing the Amarna religious revolution and the figure of Nefertiti in their context.
Survey and excavation programme in the Valley of the Kings, which revived archaeological exploration of the area.
Scientific paper setting out the hypothesis that Nefertiti's tomb lies hidden behind the walls of Tutankhamun's, sparking a vast worldwide debate.
Anecdotes
In 2015, Nicholas Reeves published an article that made headlines around the world: while examining high-resolution scans of the walls of Tutankhamun's tomb, he believed he could make out the outlines of two bricked-up doorways. According to him, one of them might conceal the never-found burial place of Queen Nefertiti.
His theory rests on a bold idea: Tutankhamun's tomb, strangely small and laid out like a queen's, may first have been dug for Nefertiti, then hastily reused for the young pharaoh who died at 19.
In 2015 and 2016, Japanese specialists scanned the tomb's walls with ground-penetrating radar to test Reeves's hypothesis. The first results seemed promising, but a third survey conducted in 2018 ultimately concluded that there was no hidden chamber.
Reeves led the Amarna Royal Tombs Project, an excavation programme in the Valley of the Kings. In 2000, his team rediscovered tomb KV63, the first burial uncovered in the valley since that of Tutankhamun in 1922.
Before becoming a famous field researcher, Reeves worked for a long time as a museum curator, first at the British Museum in London and then at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, handling Egyptian objects instead of digging them up.
Primary Sources
The clues, if confirmed, seem to indicate that Tutankhamun's tomb was only part of a larger funerary monument, and that Nefertiti's burial chamber still lies intact behind the north wall.
No archaeological discovery has so captured the public imagination as the unearthing, in 1922, of the almost intact tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun.
The Valley of the Kings remains the most extraordinary royal cemetery ever conceived, where the sovereigns of the New Kingdom were buried for nearly five centuries.
Akhenaten was the pharaoh who dared to overthrow Egypt's traditional gods in favor of a single deity, the solar disc Aten.
Key Places
Royal necropolis of the New Kingdom where Reeves carried out his excavations and studies. It is home to the tomb of Tutankhamun, at the heart of his theory.
Burial site discovered in 1922 whose walls Reeves examined in search of hidden chambers. The central focus of his famous hypothesis about Nefertiti.
Major museum where Reeves worked as a curator of Egyptian antiquities early in his career.
American museum where Reeves served as associate curator of the Egyptian department, handling leading collections.
Ancient capital of the pharaoh Akhenaten and Nefertiti, at the heart of Reeves's research on the Amarna period and the fate of the queen.
Typical Objects
Device that emits electromagnetic waves into the rock to detect cavities and buried structures without digging. It's the key tool used to test the theory of the hidden chambers in KV62.
Highly detailed digital images of the tomb's painted walls, on which Reeves believed he spotted the outlines of walled-up doors. They served as the starting point for his entire demonstration.
Small flat-bladed trowel used to gently clear away earth and objects during excavations. An iconic tool of fieldwork in the Valley of the Kings.
Famous mask of gold and lapis lazuli covering the young pharaoh's mummy, the central object of Reeves's research. It symbolizes the entire treasure discovered by Carter in 1922.
Articles and books in which Reeves presents his hypotheses and evidence to the scholarly community. The written dissemination of ideas is at the heart of the Egyptologist's craft.
Lighting systems set up to study and photograph the painted walls in the darkness of underground tombs. Essential for examining the decorations without damaging them.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
During campaigns in Egypt, the day begins very early to take advantage of the cool air before the crushing heat of the Valley of the Kings. Reeves goes down into the tombs to examine the walls, check the survey records, and coordinate the technicians in charge of the scans.
Afternoon
The afternoon is split between fieldwork and analysis: comparing images, taking notes, and discussions with the other specialists. Off-mission, it is time for the library, the museums, and the study of archives.
Evening
In the evening, the Egyptologist writes up his observations, prepares his articles, and replies to his correspondents around the world. Conferences and exchanges with colleagues often extend the day of reflection.
Food
On a mission, meals stay simple and suited to the hot climate: bread, vegetables, fruit, rice, and local Egyptian dishes. At home, his diet is that of a contemporary Western researcher.
Clothing
In the field, he wears light, pale clothing, a hat, and sturdy shoes to protect himself from the sun and dust. In a university or museum setting, he adopts understated city attire.
Housing
During excavations, Egyptologists often stay in mission houses or in lodgings close to the site, near Luxor. The rest of the year, Reeves lives and works in the major university and museum cities of the United Kingdom and the United States.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
The Complete Tutankhamun
1990
The Complete Valley of the Kings (avec Richard H. Wilkinson)
1996
Akhenaten: Egypt's False Prophet
2001
Direction de l'Amarna Royal Tombs Project
1998
The Burial of Nefertiti?
2015
