KV42


Tomb KV42 is an ancient Egyptian tomb located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It was constructed for Hatshepsut-Meryetre, the wife of Thutmose III, but she was not buried in the tomb. It was reused by Sennefer, a mayor of Thebes during the reign of Amenhotep II, and by several members of his family. The tomb has a cartouche-shaped burial chamber, like other early Eighteenth Dynasty tombs.

Construction and early use of the tomb

There is no agreement on the original owner of the tomb. The unfinished quartzite sarcophagus is seen as an indication that the tomb may have at some point been intended for Thutmosis II. The discovery of foundation deposits point to the intended owner being Queen Merytre-Hatshepsut. If the tomb ever held the body of Thutmosis II, it would have been usurped from the Queen.

Sennefer and Senetnay

KV 42 has been associated with the burials of Sennefer and his wife Senetnay since Howard Carter reported the finds of a complete set of canopic jars belonging to Senetnay in 1901. Lids of other canopic jars depicting a bearded man were thought to belong to Sennefer. Further items belonging to a royal ornament named Baketre.
Roehrig proposed that Senetnay was buried elsewhere and re-interred in KV 42, possibly as late as the 21st dynasty.