Dish Inscribed with the Throne Name of Thutmose II

In 1936 the Metropolitan Museum's Egyptian Expedition discovered a small sealed doorway on the hillside beneath Senenmut's tomb (TT 71). Inside lay four coffins surrounded by boxes, baskets, and pottery. This turned out to be one of the few well-preserved private burials from the early New Kingdom. Two coffins were inscribed for Hatnefer and Ramose, Senenmut's mother and father. Two others contained six anonymous mummies, almost certainly members of the same family.

The chief beneficiary of the tomb was Senenmut's elderly mother, who lived to benefit from her son's rise at court. At her death, Senenmut seems to have transferred the burials of other family members to Thebes, where their spirits could reap the benefits of the grave goods he was able to provide for Hatnefer.

The entrance of the small tomb was sealed with a large rock and covered by loose chip from the construction of Senenmut's chapel on the hillside above. Several inscriptions from the tomb date to regnal year 7. This indicates that the tomb was sealed in the seventh year of the joint reign of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. One amphora bears a stamp referring to Hatshepsut as the "Good Goddess." This is generally regarded as the earliest attestation of Hatshepsut as king.

This small bowl is inscribed with the throne name of Hatshepsut’s husband (and half-brother), Thutmose II – it reads “The Good God, Aakheperenre, Given Life.” It was found in coffin number 3 which contained the burial of two young women and two children. The presence of the bowl suggests that at least one of the occupants was originally buried during the reign of Thutmose II.