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A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
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Entrances to QV24 and QV25
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About

About

QV 24 is located on the south slope of the main Wadi, immediately adjacent to QV 25. The side walls and descending Ramp are partially finished, with a shallow trench at the end of the ramp. In the southwest corner of the wall at the base of the ramp, a small opening leads to the shaft of QV 25. Presumably, the location of QV 25 had been forgotten by the time of the original excavation of QV 24. When tomb excavators ran into the shaft of QV 25, work on QV 24 was abandoned.

When Elizabeth Thomas visited, she noted that the ramp was largely filled with debris. The tomb was last cleared by the Franco-Egyptian Mission in 1986. Based on the nature of the ramp, the Franco-Egyptian mission suggested that it was created during the 20th Dynasty.

Site History

Excavation of QV 24 was begun in the 20th Dynasty. Presumably the location of the earlier QV 25 had been forgotten. When tomb excavators ran into the shaft of QV 25, work on QV 24 was abandoned.

Dating

This site was used during the following period(s):

New Kingdom
Dynasty 20

Exploration

1966: Documentation
Thomas, Elizabeth
1986: Publication, Conservation, Excavation
Franco Egyptian Mission
2006-2008: Survey and Documentation
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA)

Conservation

Site Condition

According to the GCI-SCA, the marl rock is heavily weathered and fractured along bedding and joint planes. It was formerly used as a toilet by site personnel and trash accumulated in the shallow trench at the end of Ramp. Since this refuse was removed in 2007 and 2008 by GCI-SCA, site personnel began using this space to store miscellaneous items. Exposure to the environment and inappropriate use of the tomb as a toilet and dump has contributed to its poor condition. It has been recommended by the GCI-SCA to partially rebury tomb to prevent continued use. 

Articles

Geography and Geology of the Valley of the Queens and Western Wadis

The Valley of the Queens and the Western Wadis are made up of numerous valleys spread out over a vast space of desert, each containing tombs for the New Kingdom queens and other royal family members. The poor quality rock has led to damage in several tombs after suffering from earthquakes and floods.

Bibliography

Demas, Martha and Neville Agnew (eds). Valley of the Queens. Assessment Report. Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, 2012, 2016. Two vols.

Leblanc, Christian. Architecture et évolution chronologique des tombes de la Vallée des Reines. Bulletin de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale du Caire  89 (1989): 227-247.