The discovery was made at Deir el-Bahari, an ancient complex of royal tombs on the west bank of the Nile. A team of Polish archaeologists accidentally came across the box when rummaging through a pile of rubble near the famous Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut.
An inscription on the box indicates it was dedicated to the Pharaoh Thutmose II.
According to Professor Andrzej Niwiński from the University of Warsaw’s Institute of Archaeology, the discovery was a stroke of pure luck.
He told the Polish Press Agency (PAP): “The chest itself was about 40cm long and a bit less in height.
“It was perfectly camouflaged; it looked like a block of stone.
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“Only after a closer inspection, it turned out it was a chest.”
Inside of the ancient coffer were a few trinkets wrapped in linen cloth.
One of the bundles contained the skeletal remains of a sacrificed goose and another held a goose egg.
The archaeologists also found a wooden box inside of the stone chest, which held what appeared to be the wrapped up egg of an ibis.
A second wooden box was found wrapped in linen bundles next to the bigger stone chest.
Within it was a small trinket box in the shape of a miniature chapel, with an inscription reading Thutmose II.
It was perfectly camouflaged; it looked like a block of stone
Professor Andrzej Niwiński, University of Warsaw
The Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh was the husband of Hatshepsut, whose famous terraced temple is the best-known feature of Deir el-Bahari.
Thutmose II sat on the throne of Egypt at the tender age of 13 but only held onto power for three years before dying.
Professor Niwiński said: “The royal deposit indicates a temple or a tomb was being raised in the Pharaoh’s name.
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“Because we are in the middle of the royal cemetery, then it most definitely would have been a tomb.
“Discovering the deposit indicates we are in the middle of finding a tomb.”
The archaeologists found the royal coffer last March and have continued their search for the mystery tomb in October last year.
They are yet to find an entrance to the tomb but Professor Niwiński is certain it is “very close”.
Much like the famous Valley of the Kings, Deir el-Bahari is home to some of the most fascinating Ancient Egyptian discoveries.
The burial site sits across from the temple complex of Luxor and Karnak in Thebes.
The mountain overlooking Deir el-Bahari was considered sacred to the goddesses Hathor and Meretseger.
The news comes after a team of archaeologists announced the discovery of a secret chamber behind the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
Last year, archaeologists have also claimed the Ancient Egyptians were prolific musicians who mastered many intricate instruments.
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