King Tutankhamuns tomb is headed for collapse archaeologists want to move a literal mountain to save it

These ancient tombs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.The tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt is plagued with cracks, water damage and fungi, sparking fears that “disaster could strike at any moment” for the legendary 3,300-year-old burial site, experts have said.The unfortunate deterioration and potential collapse were detailed in an alarming new study published in Nature by archaeologists with the University of Cairo.“There are current and future risks facing the cemetery, which will affect its structural integrity in the long term,” study author Sayed Hemeda, a Professor of Preservation of Architectural Heritage at Cairo University, told the Daily Mail.The tomb, one of the smallest royal burials in the Valley Of The Kings in Luxor, was first discovered in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter, marking one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the Independent reported.However, researchers fear King Tut’s tomb may not stand the test of time.

Hemada noted that the tombs’ location at the foothills of the valley’s mountains exposed them to flash floods resulting from heavy rains that carried “debris, stones and soil along the way.”The catalyst for this potential catastrophe was a major flood in 1994 that caused water to seep in, raised humidity levels, and prompted the growth of fungi that were eating into the ornate paintings decorating the interior.Particularly problematic is a major fracture traversing the ceiling of the burial chamber and entrance.This fissure allowed rainwater to “penetrate and worsen the cracks,” placing the ceiling under a strain that exceeds the capacity of the Esna shale that comprises it.

This rock expands and contracts with changes in humidity, heightening the risk of deformation and collapse.While the tomb won’t crumble in the near future, Hemeda said he feared that the “cemetery may not last for thousands of years as it was built.”Worst of all, little is being done to pr...