Zahi Hawass Addresses Myths: No New Valley of the Kings or Vatican Papyrus
Dr. Zahi Hawass, a prominent Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities, has clarified that recent rumors about a "new Valley of the Kings" and the existence of "four mummies of messengers" are entirely unfounded.
In an interview with media figure Hamdi Rizk on the "Nazra" program aired on the "Sada Elbalad" channel, Hawass emphasized that the established Valley of the Kings remains the sole one in Egypt, housing 66 tombs. He stated, "Having excavated in Egypt for over fifty years, if there were anything new, we would have announced it."
Hawass addressed claims made by Dr. Waseem El-Sisi regarding a potential new valley, noting that after contacting former Minister of Antiquities Dr. Khaled El-Anani, a committee was formed to investigate the site. Their findings revealed no written evidence to support these assertions.
He also clarified that the Valley of the Kings contains only three mummies that have undergone CT scans: the mummy of Queen Ti, the mother of King Tutankhamun, and a third mummy whose identity is still under review. Regarding rumors of "corn" found within one of the mummies, he stated, "We have scanned all the mummies with CT machines and taken a thousand images that illustrate the person's life completely; there is no corn or anything unusual present."
Hawass further refuted claims about a papyrus purportedly located in the Vatican Museum, stating, "The book and page number cited do not exist, and the papyrus itself was fabricated by an individual with no scientific credibility."
He categorically denied any involvement of extraterrestrial beings in the construction of the pyramids, asserting, "There are no extraterrestrial beings that built the pyramids, nor do they have any relation to that."
Hawass concluded with a cautionary note for those in the field of archaeology, urging, "When sharing information, ensure it is scientifically valid. If unscientific claims are included in references for archaeologists, it will invite significant criticism."
