It is rare to find a tomb almost intact, filled with precious ancient treasures that have remained undisturbed for 3,000 years, like the tomb of the couple Yuya and Tjuyu in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.
Most tombs of ancient Egyptian nobility have been looted, but tomb robbers had little chance of entering the tomb of the couple Yuya and Tjuyu, designated as KV46 in the Valley of the Kings located on the west bank of the Nile River near Luxor.
The mummies’ masks of Tjuyu and Yuya.
Yuya and his wife Tjuyu lived during the 18th Dynasty of Egypt (around 1390 BC). Yuya was a powerful ancient Egyptian courtier, and Tjuyu was a noblewoman. They were the parents of Queen Tiye and Anen—a priest who held the title of the Divine Father.
When the couple Yuya and Tjuyu passed away, they were buried according to ancient Egyptian traditions. Their bodies were mummified, and they were prepared with numerous items for their journey to the afterlife.
Studies of the mummies of Yuya and Tjuyu indicate that they died at quite an advanced age. Their hair had turned white, and examinations of their remains confirmed they passed away when they were elderly.
Some small statues found in the tomb.
“According to archaeologists who excavated KV46, it would not be incorrect to say that they were over sixty years old. From the relative position of the two sarcophagi in the tomb, it seems that the husband died first,” according to Ancientpages.
The tomb of Yuya and Tjuyu was discovered in 1905 by archaeologist James E. Quibell, funded by Theodore M. Davis.
When the archaeologists entered KV46, they were astonished to find a wealth of beautifully preserved ancient artifacts. The mummies of Yuya and Tjuyu were also in excellent condition.
Yuya’s mummy was encased in three nested coffins. These coffins were again placed within a large rectangular wooden sarcophagus, which was mounted on a sled with rollers at the front.
The coffins were covered in hieroglyphs and images depicting a procession of gods led by Thoth.
The Book of the Dead and the gilded chair in the tomb.
Tjuyu’s mummy was also placed in “two separate nested coffins, which were set within a large rectangular wooden sarcophagus mounted on a sled.”
Inside KV46, archaeologists also found many exquisite pieces of jewelry, the Book of the Dead, and several small jars.
The beautifully preserved chariot found in the tomb.
However, among all the stunning artifacts discovered in KV46, there was one chariot considered to be the most special item.
The chariot was adorned with spirals and rose motifs made of gilded plaster, and it is likely that this nameless chariot belonged to Yuya.
