Valley of the Kings

Understand

The tombs within the Valley are officially given a KV number, standing for "King's Valley". The tomb of Tutankhamun, for example, is also known as KV62.

A number of archaeological excavations continue periodically within the Valley of the King's to the present day; perhaps best known is the American University of Cairo's excavation of KV5, the tomb of the Sons of Ramesses II. Director of this excavation is Professor Kent Weeks, also director of the Theban Mapping Project, officially granted the permit to map the Theban Necropolis in its entirety - a project now well advanced.