Qurna lies within the non-royal Theban necropolis, to the north of the row of royal mortuary temples, with the Valley of the Kings lying beyond the cliffs to the north. The tombs here are located between 170 m and 80 m above sea level, with the flood plain beginning at 80 m above sea level. This area consists of steep upper slopes, while further down the terrain becomes less steeply inclined, and flattens out closer to the cultivated land. It is the most densely populated area of the necropolis, divided into the upper and lower slopes. This division is based on contouring data, tomb distribution, and utilising natural divisions made by paths and topography, as these are believed to have remained relatively unchanged since ancient times.
Tomb groups in the early Eighteenth Dynasty
Upper Qurna contains 77 tombs dating to the New Kingdom or earlier. The earliest burials date to the Middle Kingdom (c.2055-1650 BC: TT60, TT61, TT81, TT82, TT117, and TT119), but the majority of tombs were built in the Eighteenth Dynasty, specifically between the reigns of Hatshepsut and Amenhotep III (c.1473-1352 BC). The Middle Kingdom tombs may have acted as a focal point for tomb-building at the beginning of the New Kingdom, or these upper slopes may have been chosen on account of their elevated position and views towards the east. During the reigns of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, there was an influx of tombs on the upper slopes, many orientated towards the Deir el-Bahri temples of these rulers. Upper Qurna was the closest active area of the necropolis to Deir el-Bahri, suggesting a spatial link with the temples, which are visible from these upper slopes.
At the end of the reign of Thutmose III, there was a distinct shift in focus to a previously empty area in the north-western corner. Of the 11 tombs on the upper slopes, nine are dated to Amenhotep II, and are located in close proximity to each other in this western corner, which has the best views of that king’s mortuary temple. The extent of this shift was limited by the contours of the Theban hills in this area. This westerly shift is demonstrated by a defined cluster of tombs (TT29, TT92, TT93, TT94, TT95, TT96, TT98, and TT367), with another group in close proximity just across the path (TT79, TT80, TT84, TT85, TT88, TT97, and TT100). This move is probably a combination of the natural evolution of Upper Qurna (as less space was now available in the central area close to the Middle Kingdom tombs), and an attempt to ensure a funerary view towards the mortuary temple of Amenhotep II (and Thutmose III, for those dating to the previous reign). These tombs were located high up the slope, and were orientated in the direction of these mortuary temples, suggesting that a line of sight to the mortuary temple of the king they served was a prime concern when siting the tomb.
