KV -20 , Tomb of Tuthmosis I and Hatshepsut Tomb description: A mostly undecorated tomb built by the pharaoh Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Kings at point directly behind her impressive temple at Deir el Bahri. It is thought that the extreme length of the tomb was to enable her body would then lie underneath her temple - however the curve in the tomb shows how the tomb builders came across unsuitable rock and so the tomb had to turn away from its intended route. When the sarcophagus chamber was cleared by Howard Carter in 1920, he found two sarcophagi - one belonging to Hatshepsut and one which belonged to her father Tuthmosis I, both empty.

The only decoration of the tomb was in the burial chamber, fifteen limestone blocks which were inscribed with texts from the Amduat:

Hatshepsut was buried in a quartzite sarcophagus, this was in fact her second sarcophagus - on proclaiming herself king Hatshepsut decided not to use her original sarcophagus which was made for her while she was still queen. Her original sarcophagus was re-carved for the burial of her father Tuthmosis I:

Tuthmosis I was also buried within KV20 on the death of Hatshepsut, but not for long - Tuthmosis III was to move his mummy into KV38 and bury him in a new sarcophagus.

carving on one end of the sarcophagus of Tuthmosis I

Other objects found in the tomb: a foundation deposit of Hatsheput was found at the entrance to the tomb which included fragments of funerary furniture (inscribed with the names of Ahmose-Nefertari, Tuthmosis I, Queen Ahmose and Hatshepsut), potsherds, fragments of faience and burnt pieces of a statue -possibly a guardian statue. a shabti figure belonging to Hatshepsut in The Hague. Some other funerary items belonging to Hatshepsut were found in the Royal Cache of TT320