The Holy Horizon: The Early 18^th Dynasty Royal Necropolis at Deir el-Bahari

In 2019 the Polish Cliff Mission cleaning the slopes above the temple of Thutmose III at Deir el-Bahari discovered a foundation deposit of Thutmose II perhaps related to an unfinished rock tomb of an inverted T-shape, or to a simple rock sanctuary nearby. Further works in front of this have revealed a huge man-made accumulation of stones and debris topped with a platform. The excavated place is axially connected with the cult chapel devoted to Thutmose I and II within the temple precinct of Thutmose III. The existence of the tomb of Thutmose II nearby seemed not to be excluded, and indeed a tomb was planned there, with an (only begun) entrance situated just behind this chapel. Other hints suggest that the tomb of Amenhotep I may have also been located in the area of this temple called ‘Holy Horizon’. A common cult place of Amenhotep I and Thutmose III is attested there, too. [Formula: see text]