Tomb KV43 is the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose IV in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. It has a dog-leg shape, typical of the layout of early 18th Dynasty tombs. KV43 rediscovered in 1903 by Howard Carte. Excavating on behalf of Theodore M. Davis.

KV43
Burial site of Thutmose IV
Thutmose receives life from, in turn, Osiris, Anubis, and Hathor (wall decoration in KV43)

Discovery and location of Tomb KV43

In fact, this tomb discovered by Howard Carter in January 1903 as part of the systematic clearance of a small valley that runs west from the tomb of Ramesses III (KV3). These excavations conducted by the Antiquities Service on behalf of Theodore Davis. An alabaster vase inscribed with the name of Thutmose IV encountered part way up the valley in 1902, leading Carter to suspect he was close to the tomb.

In fact, by January 1903, investigations reached the base of a sheer cliff. Here the bedrock rises to form a natural platform which leveled to take the tomb cutting. On this platform, in front of the tomb entrance, two intact foundation deposits uncovered containing alabaster vessels and model implements; one of them, an alabaster saucer, had been usurped from Hatshepsut.In fact, the discovery of these items, along with others also bearing the king’s name, confirmed this was the tomb of Thutmose IV.

On 18 January 1903 the entrance was cleared enough to permit an exploration; Davis had already left for Aswan, and Carter, unable to contact him, resolved to enter the tomb anyway, inviting American amateur Egyptologist Robb de Peyster Tytus along for the inspection.

Decorations

Only two rooms in this tomb decorated: the upper part of the well shaft, and the antechamber. The ceilings of both areas decorated with yellow stars on a blue background. In the case of the well, only two walls fully decorated. They begin with a kheker-frieze and the left wall depicts Thutmose before Osiris, Anubis, and Hathor. The other wall is unfinished and depicts Anubis. In the antechamber likewise only two walls painted and have the same repeating decorative scheme of the king depicted before various gods.