Since Tutankhamun's Tomb was discovered in 1922 there have been no new major findings in the ancient Valley of the Kings (near Luxor, Egypt) -- until this week. The BBC reports that archaeologists from the University of Memphis stumbled upon an intact Pharaonic tomb dating back to around 1540BC. Inside the tomb they found unopened sarcophagi; colored funery masks; 20 large storage jars and five undisturbed mummies. The tomb was just steps away from Tutankhamun's tomb, 4 meters (approx 14 feet) underground.

It may be a while before the general public can visit the new tomb, in fact only a small percentage of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings are open to the public at one time. Many are still being studied by archaeologists and some are simply unsafe to visit. Most of the booty found in the tombs (and many have been raided over the centuries) makes its way to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo so you could get to see some of the findings there, once they have been studied.

Further Reading:

• BBC News on the New Tomb
  
• Ancient Egypt Resources from About.com's Archaeology Guide
  
• Travel Guide to Luxor and Thebes
  
• The Theban Mapping Project
  

Thanks to David Hutchinson for the use of his image of the Valley of the Kings