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The Lost Tomb
In 1995, an American Egyptologist Discovered the Burial Site Of the Sons of Ramesses II--This Is His Story
Dr. Weeks, an Egyptologist with the American University in Cairo, draws on his own diaries, as well as those of his wife and foreman, to describe the excitement and risks that surrounded the most significant archaeological discovery of our time: the burial site of the Son of Ramesses II.
Dr. Weeks, an Egyptologist with the American University in Cairo, draws on his own diaries, as well as those of his wife and foreman, to describe the excitement and risks that surrounded the most significant archaeological discovery of our time: the burial site of the Son of Ramesses II.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 2, 2020
This journey into the modern Valley of the Kings was extremely exciting and well-written. With a perfect balance of history and archaeology, Dr. Weeks made his life’s-work (and passion for Egyptology) accessible to any novice. I found myself riveted to the story of his excavation of KV5 (the tomb of the sons of Rameses II) like an edge-or-your-seat adventure movie. There were hidden chambers, harrowing perils, and the thrill of numerous discoveries. I highly recommend this historical account to any armchair adventurer! 🔦🗺
April 25, 2020
Well-written account of Kent and Susan Weeks' early work on the Theban Mapping Project and excavations in KV5. Still intriguing after all these years.
November 27, 2025
Better than I expected for a dry retelling of a tomb discovery by an archeologist. This book revived my love for ancient Egypt.
June 6, 2015
Part memoir, part history lesson, part archeological treatise this book has something for everyone. A document of what is probably the greatest archeological discovery of our time is more than an academic book concerning the burial place of Ramesses II; it is also an engaging piece of narrative non-fiction written in a warm personal style that should please readers of all ages and walks of life. Kent Weeks has a writers eye for detail and an ability to convey the tedious, laborious task of excavating an immense tomb in a entertaining and informative voice that takes the reader into a world that few of us will ever know first hand. There probably is not a writer alive who wouldn't wish to do the same. The memorable people he surrounds himself with and the celebrity he encounters after his brush with history are all described in this books as is the mapping project that preceded his discovery but I never got the feeling that Kent Weeks focus was on anything else but the tomb he was excavating. This is an academic whose meticulous approach to archeology and love for ancient Egypt was going to lead him to a great discovery and the fluid precise writing style employs only adds the discovery.
August 14, 2013
An interesting book about the exploration of KV 5, the possible tomb of the sons of Ramesses II. It is scholarly enough to give you some insight into ancient Egypt; but not so scholarly that it comes across as lie a text book. Like most of these explorations it is still a work in progress and open to various theories and interpretations.
October 4, 2020
It all started as a plan to map the entire Theban Necropolis in order to create a database of monuments and tombs. Over the decades, ancient Egyptian monuments had been destroyed by carelessness and environmental disasters from flash floods to the annual Nile inundations. Modern construction with little to no concern to any archaeological artifacts in a country with thousands of years of history.
Dr. Ken Weeks starts the book with his own childhood's fascination with Egyptology, his education and early archaeological digs. it is his connection with the Theban Mapping Project which brought him to the Valley of the Kings with the intent to map all the tombs - even those that were not open to the public. He also wanted to find some of the tombs that had been noted centuries ago but had been buried in debris over the years. Especially since there was more buildings proposed and Weeks wanted to evaluate the area before any tombs were forever lost.
Which is where KV5 came in. There were two records from the early 1800's of investigators that managed to wiggle into the debris filled first rooms. Permission was granted for Weeks to dig in the area where it was believed to be - and they found the entrance filled with silt and debris from flooding. Weeks goes into the slow excavations - first clearing the first two rooms which leads to the third pillared room that could only be cleared along the edges until engineers could evaluate the stress and damage done to the ceiling over the millenia. They found a door into another room. And another door. And another door. There there was a corridor lined with more rooms. All filled with flood debris but the further from the entrance, the smaller the fragments and silt amounts.
Determined to be the burial sites of several sons of Pharaoh Ramesses II and excavations continue to this day. At the time of the book, it is estimated that there are nearly 150 rooms connected by multiple corridors extending into the mountain, under the access road and crossing the floor-plans of two nearby tombs. There are short biographies of not only Ramesses but of several of his sons, the possible correlation with the Exodus story along with robbers that rifled the tomb in antiquity.
It's a fascinating read and goes incredibly fast. The chapter illustrations by Susan Weeks provide an interesting look into the lives of the workers and the surrounding areas.
The only possible negative I can add is the diagram of the tomb that appears on page 211 which was labelled with the various corridors and rooms should have been included much earlier in the book or even as an inside cover illustration. The stage diagrams on pages 106-107 - although very interesting - give the reader only a vague idea where Dr. Weeks is moving the workers to when discussing room 9 or corridor 11. Beyond the first three rooms, all others are guesses which he's talking about until that illustration nearly two-thirds of the way through.
2020-198
Dr. Ken Weeks starts the book with his own childhood's fascination with Egyptology, his education and early archaeological digs. it is his connection with the Theban Mapping Project which brought him to the Valley of the Kings with the intent to map all the tombs - even those that were not open to the public. He also wanted to find some of the tombs that had been noted centuries ago but had been buried in debris over the years. Especially since there was more buildings proposed and Weeks wanted to evaluate the area before any tombs were forever lost.
Which is where KV5 came in. There were two records from the early 1800's of investigators that managed to wiggle into the debris filled first rooms. Permission was granted for Weeks to dig in the area where it was believed to be - and they found the entrance filled with silt and debris from flooding. Weeks goes into the slow excavations - first clearing the first two rooms which leads to the third pillared room that could only be cleared along the edges until engineers could evaluate the stress and damage done to the ceiling over the millenia. They found a door into another room. And another door. And another door. There there was a corridor lined with more rooms. All filled with flood debris but the further from the entrance, the smaller the fragments and silt amounts.
Determined to be the burial sites of several sons of Pharaoh Ramesses II and excavations continue to this day. At the time of the book, it is estimated that there are nearly 150 rooms connected by multiple corridors extending into the mountain, under the access road and crossing the floor-plans of two nearby tombs. There are short biographies of not only Ramesses but of several of his sons, the possible correlation with the Exodus story along with robbers that rifled the tomb in antiquity.
It's a fascinating read and goes incredibly fast. The chapter illustrations by Susan Weeks provide an interesting look into the lives of the workers and the surrounding areas.
The only possible negative I can add is the diagram of the tomb that appears on page 211 which was labelled with the various corridors and rooms should have been included much earlier in the book or even as an inside cover illustration. The stage diagrams on pages 106-107 - although very interesting - give the reader only a vague idea where Dr. Weeks is moving the workers to when discussing room 9 or corridor 11. Beyond the first three rooms, all others are guesses which he's talking about until that illustration nearly two-thirds of the way through.
2020-198
January 7, 2019
This is hands down the best nonfiction I’ve ever read.
Kent Weeks has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. His passion for Egypt and its history is obvious in the decades he dedicated to the Theban Mapping Project. The TMP ensures that the tombs, temples, and monuments of Egypt will never be lost again.
This book delves into the rediscovery of the largest and most intriguing tomb in the Valley of the Kings, KV 5. It is a must-read for anyone enamored with Ancient Egypt and passionate about restoration and conservation.
Kent Weeks has an extraordinary gift for storytelling. His passion for Egypt and its history is obvious in the decades he dedicated to the Theban Mapping Project. The TMP ensures that the tombs, temples, and monuments of Egypt will never be lost again.
This book delves into the rediscovery of the largest and most intriguing tomb in the Valley of the Kings, KV 5. It is a must-read for anyone enamored with Ancient Egypt and passionate about restoration and conservation.
January 9, 2021
I knew very little of Ancient Egypt before I started reading this book. I received it as part of a mystery-book box purchase to support a local bookstore during Covid. It was very easy to read and incredibly interesting and informative. Weeks writes in a way that carries you along with the excitement, anticipation and frustrations of their decades of dedication to answering questions of and preserving Egypt’s history.
October 24, 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book but it far exceeded my expectations. It tells the story of the excavation of the tomb itself but, along the way, it throws in a large amount of Egyptian history, beliefs, and customs. It also gives an overview of much of the history of excavations in the Valley of the Kings. Well worth the read.
May 25, 2025
Really capturing the excitement and adventure of discovering an archaeological wonder, I really enjoyed this book.
The painstaking research, desperate need for funding, drama of the potential and sense of teamwork are all captured in this well written and highly engaging tale which brings home the dedication needed to help us understand the past.
A fab read.
The painstaking research, desperate need for funding, drama of the potential and sense of teamwork are all captured in this well written and highly engaging tale which brings home the dedication needed to help us understand the past.
A fab read.
August 10, 2017
Libro fascinante, te engancha desde el principio y no te deja hasta el final, prosa muy fluida sin entrar en tecnicismos propios de la profesión de arqueólogo, contado para todo el mundo y que poco a poco te va metiendo en la Historia de Egipto a través de esta tumba.
Recomendable 100%.
Recomendable 100%.
June 4, 2019
Gut geschrieben und natürlich sehr interessant, auch wenn ich mir mehr Detailwissen zu KV5 gewünscht hätte (schließlich geht es ja eigentlich um dieses Grab in dem Buch). Aber das Wissen zum Theban Mapping Project und der Ägyptologie/den Ausgrabungen an sich war sehr unterhaltsam. Kein Fehlkauf ^^
May 2, 2021
This is a bit difficult to navigate at times, but it's worth the investment. Go in to learn about the discovery of a massive tomb. Don't expect to learn everything the tomb has to tell us since it's not been completely cleared of debris.
April 18, 2022
Good archeological story about a tomb excavation in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Not a lost tomb truly, but an overlooked one. Met the author at UCLA at a lecture on the Theban Mapping Project in the 80s.
October 24, 2016
Great book. I've had this on my shelf for several years and finally took it down. I don't know why I waited so long. A compelling story and a fascinating time of history.
September 9, 2019
Excellent and highly recommended. I hope Weeks' will write a follow-up volume covering his work since the publication of this book.
March 2, 2021
This reads like a novel. It is a fascinating personal account of how an Egyptologist works. It is a great companion book to the fiction personal account of The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips.
April 4, 2024
A great read! But I need a sequel! Did they ever discover who the last 4 skulls were? Or have them reconstructed? Lots of cliff hangers!
October 7, 2024
An excellent read regarding the re-discovery of KV5 and its subsequent attempt at being cleared of debris and revealing some of its secrets. I still wish I had become am archeologist. Recommended.
March 24, 2025
Absolute treat of a book. I went in with zero expectations and got thoroughly lost in this account of the discovery of the biggest tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings!
August 7, 2025
An interesting book, very meandering, covering both the discovery of the tomb and the history behind it. A little dated but the author has a lot of enthusiasm and expertise
December 30, 2011
I first read The Lost Tomb in the early-to-mid 2000s, and it's long been one my favourite books about Egyptology. Luckily, I now own a copy. :D
If you knew me at all during that time, you'd know that Ramesses II was my absolute favourite pharaoh, so any book about him had to be good. So, okay, The Lost Tomb – which is about the rediscovery and excavation work of the tomb of Ramesses II's sons (known as KV5) – already had a lot going for it.
Not only is The Lost Tomb the story of the discovery of KV5 – the most significant find in the Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamun – but because of the context Weeks provides, it's also a great source on Ramesses II's life and family and archaeological practices.
But The Lost Tomb is just a really, really good read. You don't need to have a specialist knowledge to really get into it. Weeks is very engaging writer, and very good at explaining things without getting bogged down by the abundance of facts. For this reason, I think he's one of the best authors writing in the field.
If you knew me at all during that time, you'd know that Ramesses II was my absolute favourite pharaoh, so any book about him had to be good. So, okay, The Lost Tomb – which is about the rediscovery and excavation work of the tomb of Ramesses II's sons (known as KV5) – already had a lot going for it.
Not only is The Lost Tomb the story of the discovery of KV5 – the most significant find in the Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamun – but because of the context Weeks provides, it's also a great source on Ramesses II's life and family and archaeological practices.
But The Lost Tomb is just a really, really good read. You don't need to have a specialist knowledge to really get into it. Weeks is very engaging writer, and very good at explaining things without getting bogged down by the abundance of facts. For this reason, I think he's one of the best authors writing in the field.
February 9, 2013
Ancient Egypt through the eyes of someone, who loves what he is doing. And it shows in his writing. He tells us, what the Theban Mapping Project is and how it came to exist. It eventually leads him to re-discover KV5, "the greatest discovery at the Valley of the Kings since Tutankhamun". Great read, very exciting, you feel as if you are digging that tomb together with Kent Weeks and his team. And he throws in some new theories of his own on what it could all mean. Very readable, not just a dry recount of events and it wants you to read more about it all. It also gives you a nice look into the Upper Egypt of today and its people.
What makes this book even more special to me is that I met Kent Weeks briefly, while I lived in Cairo and that one of my oldest friends worked on the Theban Mapping Project with him. So I got a lot of answers to my many questions... ;-)
What makes this book even more special to me is that I met Kent Weeks briefly, while I lived in Cairo and that one of my oldest friends worked on the Theban Mapping Project with him. So I got a lot of answers to my many questions... ;-)
August 25, 2016
I've always been fascinated by ancient Egypt, and I remember the news of the discovery of KV5 back in 1995. At that time, I watched a documentary with my Dad (who passed away a few years ago) about its discovery literally beneath where the tourist coaches used to unload streams of tourists who had no idea what lay beneath their feet. I've been dutifully following the progress of excavation (still ongoing today - and now the largest tomb in the Valley of the Kings). This book adds wonderful firsthand insight into the discovery.
I still check to see how the excavation is going. More chambers and wonders are being discovered with every season. The tomb of Rameses II KV5 has had me spellbound for years and long may it continue to reveal its secrets. (And, as a genre fiction writer, these discoveries make excellent story ideas! ;) )
I still check to see how the excavation is going. More chambers and wonders are being discovered with every season. The tomb of Rameses II KV5 has had me spellbound for years and long may it continue to reveal its secrets. (And, as a genre fiction writer, these discoveries make excellent story ideas! ;) )
June 23, 2010
The Lost Tomb begins with Kent Weeks beginnings and his interest of being an archaeologist since childhood. Needless to say, Weeks dream came true. Weeks was working on the Theban Mapping Project and the project's aim is to know the location of every tomb in the area. While working on the project Weeks and his team rediscovered KV5.
Kent Weeks goes into explaining the excavations of KV5 and the excitment surrounding it all.
I don't read nonfiction very often. I like reading fiction much better. But, I can say I really enjoyed The Lost Tomb. I've always had an interest in Egypt and this book has greatly renewed my interest in Egypt. The Lost Tomb was an exciting and interesting read. I recommend it to anyone interested in Egypt.
Kent Weeks goes into explaining the excavations of KV5 and the excitment surrounding it all.
I don't read nonfiction very often. I like reading fiction much better. But, I can say I really enjoyed The Lost Tomb. I've always had an interest in Egypt and this book has greatly renewed my interest in Egypt. The Lost Tomb was an exciting and interesting read. I recommend it to anyone interested in Egypt.
August 20, 2014
So....this book grabbed me at the library. A happy return to non-fiction. Some parts were dry, but the detail was appreciated. Weeks (the author) truly loves being an Egyptologist and this shines through. A very interesting read: excellent, helpful description of Thebes area, the Valley of the Kings, deified pharaohs, construction of tombs, and archaeology in general. And a nice reminder of the year 1995 when KV5 and its expedition exploded in the news.
Read
January 23, 2017Sometimes history can be much better than fiction.
This is the wonderful story surrounding the rediscovery of KV5, the tomb at the Valley of the Kings where some of the numerous sons of Ramesses II were buried. With more than a hundred chambers this was revealed as the largest subterranean tomb in Egypt and one of the most thrilling discoveries ever.
A real tale, to dream with other eras and other worlds; to admire the boldness and passion of people you wish you were like.
This is the wonderful story surrounding the rediscovery of KV5, the tomb at the Valley of the Kings where some of the numerous sons of Ramesses II were buried. With more than a hundred chambers this was revealed as the largest subterranean tomb in Egypt and one of the most thrilling discoveries ever.
A real tale, to dream with other eras and other worlds; to admire the boldness and passion of people you wish you were like.
May 31, 2008
Fascinating account of a great discovery by the archaeologist who made it. Enlightening to see and hear it from an archaeologist’s point of view, gives me a good sense of how they think. Really lays out all that goes into conducting a dig and what happens when you find something that rocks the world. Excellent combination of memoir and science with mystery story plotting and pacing.
October 24, 2014
When I was a little girl I always liked to watch documentaries about Egyptian antiquities wishing one day I can see these amaizing antiquities..this book have lot of dry parts it was like reading school book but there was interesting parts and I learned lot of things about Pharaohs and there traditions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews