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Deir el‑Bahari, Luxor West Bank • TT320 / DB320
خبيئة الدير البحري الملكية • حيث اختبأت مومياوات الفراعنة لقرون
A hidden rock‑cut tomb in the cliffs of Deir el‑Bahari became the safest “vault” in ancient Egypt. Here, priests of the 21st Dynasty gathered and protected dozens of royal mummies — including legends like Seti I and Ramesses II. This page explains the story, the discovery, the most famous mummies, and the best way to experience the Royal Cache today.
A fast overview of what TT320 is — and why it became one of the most important discoveries in Egyptology.
A concealed tomb in the cliffs south of the Deir el‑Bahari temples (Theban Necropolis), opposite modern Luxor. [1]
Known today as TT320 (Theban Tomb 320); older literature often calls it DB320 (Deir el‑Bahari 320). [1][6]
In the 21st Dynasty, priests rewrapped and relocated vulnerable royal burials to protect them from robbery and desecration. [1][2]
Locals discovered it earlier, but the cache became publicly known in 1881. Émile Brugsch and Ahmed Kamal cleared the tomb rapidly, with limited documentation. [1][3][7]
Among the best‑known: Seqenenre Tao, Ahmose I, Amenhotep I, Thutmose I–III, Seti I, Ramesses II, and others. [1][2]
Many of the “Royal Mummies” were transferred in 2021 to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo, following the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade. [4][5]
Imagine an Egyptologist receiving word that dozens of pharaohs — long thought lost to robbers — are hidden together in one secret tomb. That is why TT320 caused a sensation: it transformed scholarly knowledge of royal mummification, coffin reuse, burial equipment, and the late New Kingdom crisis.
The cache also preserves rare historical details. Many mummies were rewrapped and tagged with linen dockets, recording names and actions by priests. Those records help modern researchers track how royal burials were moved and “rescued” during the Third Intermediate Period. [1][2]
If you can’t visit TT320 itself, you can still “follow the story” on the ground: stand at Deir el‑Bahari, look up at the cliffs, and realize that the greatest rulers of Egypt lay hidden nearby for centuries.
Deeper context for curious travelers: what TT320 is, how it was discovered, why the reburials happened, and how to experience the story today.
The Royal Cache is a Theban tomb that became an emergency storage place for royal burials. Its modern designation is TT320 (older: DB320), located in a hidden recess of the cliffs near Deir el‑Bahari. [1]
The tomb was originally associated with the family of Pinedjem II, a High Priest of Amun, but during the 21st Dynasty it also became a place where royal mummies from earlier dynasties were reburied. Some of the most studied royal mummies in Cairo collections come from this single cache. [1][2]
Instead of one king, TT320 held dozens of royal individuals, their coffins, and funerary objects. That concentration turned TT320 into a cornerstone for modern studies of royal mummification and reburial practices. [1][6]
TT320 is not a decorated Valley of the Kings “tour tomb.” It’s a hidden cliff tomb whose fame comes from what it contained — not from wall paintings.
By the 1870s, objects associated with TT320 were appearing on the antiquities market in Luxor. Investigations eventually traced the flow of artifacts back to a local family. The tomb’s location became publicly known in 1881, creating a sensation. [1]
On July 6, 1881, officials reached the tomb while the head of the Antiquities Service was away; Émile Brugsch and the Egyptian scholar Ahmed Kamal were sent to act. Brugsch removed the contents within about 48 hours — a move that saved the mummies but left the original arrangement poorly recorded. [1][3][7]
Because the clearance was so rapid, later researchers faced puzzles about coffin positions, missing fragments, and the original “packing order” of the cache. Modern studies often revisit TT320 precisely to reconstruct what was lost in those first chaotic days. [1][6][7]
In the late New Kingdom, royal tombs suffered repeated robbery. During the 21st Dynasty, the priestly leadership of Thebes created a “rescue program”: they retrieved threatened royal burials, repaired damage, rewrapped mummies in fresh linen, and often added labels (dockets) to keep track of identities. [1][2]
TT320’s hidden entrance helped. Accounts note that when the last burials were placed in the cache, the opening was naturally concealed by sand and debris, making the tomb difficult to find — exactly what the rescuers needed. [1]
Evidence suggests multiple phases of reburial and activity in TT320, with different groups placed at different times. Researchers discuss TT320 alongside other early 18th Dynasty tombs and cache practices to understand these phases. [6]
The Royal Mummies were catalogued early in the Cairo Museum tradition. The classic 1912 catalogue remains a foundational reference for many identifications and details. [2]
TT320 contained an extraordinary set of royal and high‑status burials. Different publications list the full inventory, but these names capture the “headline” rulers most travelers recognize. [1][2]
In addition to earlier kings, TT320 also held important 21st Dynasty figures, including High Priests and their families connected to the management of royal reburials. [1]
Identifications of royal mummies can be complex and sometimes debated. For the most detailed lists and catalog numbers, consult scholarly catalogues and publication directories. [2][6][8]
Unlike decorated royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, TT320 is a practical rock‑cut structure. It is often described as a shaft leading into corridors and chambers large enough to stack coffins and objects. Its “hidden recess” setting is part of why it was chosen for protection. [1][6]
Scholars compare TT320’s architecture and burial history to other Theban tombs to understand how early 18th‑Dynasty designs evolved and how later priests reused older spaces. One study discusses TT320 alongside TT358 and KV39 to explore these patterns. [6]
Some unique funerary objects from the cache — like a colorful leather “funerary tent” associated with a princess — remained remarkably well preserved, partly because the cache environment protected them from light and exposure. [3]
Visit the Royal Mummies Hall at NMEC in Cairo. Official sources describe the 2021 transfer of 22 royal mummies to NMEC during the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade. [4][5]
At Deir el‑Bahari, tour the famous temples (especially Hatshepsut’s). From this amphitheater of cliffs, you’re only a short distance from where the Royal Cache was hidden.
TT320 is generally described as closed to regular visitors. Some specialist trips mention special permits to walk to the area — but it is not a standard “ticketed tomb” experience. [9][10]
The discovery story inspired the Egyptian film The Night of Counting the Years (1969), a classic portrayal of heritage, looting, and identity. [1]
Quick answers to the most common traveler questions about TT320.
Yes. TT320 is the modern Theban tomb number; DB320 is an older designation used in some books. Many publications mention both to avoid confusion. [1][6]
Many are displayed at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization (NMEC) in Cairo. Official communications describe the 2021 transfer of 22 royal mummies during the Pharaohs’ Golden Parade. [4][5]
No. TT320 is associated with 21st Dynasty priestly families (including Pinedjem II) and also held royal women and elite individuals. It’s a mixed cache that reflects a complex reburial program. [1][6]
Definitely. TT320 connects the dots between the Valley of the Kings, Deir el‑Bahari, and the museums in Cairo. Even a 5‑minute summary makes the Theban cliffs feel “alive” with hidden history.
Key references used for this page. (Numbers match the in‑text citations like [1], [2], etc.)
[1] Wikipedia — Royal Cache (TT320 / DB320).
[2] Grafton Elliot Smith (1912) — Catalogue général… The Royal Mummies (Internet Archive).
[3] Wikimedia Commons — Isetemkheb B’s Funerary Baldachin (notes on Brugsch & Ahmed Kamal clearing TT320).
[4] Egypt State Information Service — 22 royal mummies received at NMEC (Pharaohs’ Golden Parade).
[5] NMEC (official website) — National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.
[6] David A. Aston — TT 358, TT 320 and KV 39 (Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean).
[7] The Past — The Royal Cache at Deir el‑Bahri, 1881 (summary of the rapid clearance).
[8] CESRAS (publication directory) — TT320 / DB320 Directory of publications.
[9] Egypt Day Trips — Royal Cache visitor note (mentions TT320 is closed to visitors; check for updates).
[10] Ancient World Tours — Tour description (mentions special permit walk to the TT320 area).
[11] Wikimedia Commons — Hero image (Deir el‑Bahari view).