Hawass predicts big discovery: 04-11-2008
Travellers in Egypt may look to head to Luxor soon, after Egypt's top archaeologist predicted his team could be on the verge of a major find.
Zahi Hawass has been writing in his Al Ahram column that his team found what looks to be the entrance to two separate tombs before excessive heat stopped excavations in May.
The cooler weather has allowed the dig in the Valley of the Kings to recommence and Dr Hawass is hopeful the site he has long-dreamt of working on could turn up only the second major discovery in the valley since Tutankhamen was found in 1922.
"It seems that my dream to excavate in the valley has finally come true. Last November, I began the first Egyptian expedition ever to work there," he wrote.
"We began our work in the spot where I had dreamed of excavating, between the tombs of Merenptah and Ramses II. I believe that the tomb of Ramses VIII could be located in this area."
Following the discovery of Tutankhamen in 1922, the next major discovery was of KV63 - a tomb found by Otto Schaden in 2006.
Luxor is one of the major tourist destinations in Egypt, rivalling Giza as an archaeological attraction.
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