Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty has invited the British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves to Egypt to discuss and possibly prove his theory about Nefertiti's hidden tomb, according to a statement released Wednesday.
The University of Arizona archaeologist made international headlines last week when he claimed in a study that Nefertiti's tomb could be hidden behind a previously undiscovered doorway in King Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
Eldamaty contacted Reeves and the two have agreed to have Reeves arrive in Egypt some time in the second half of September in order to "present the full details of his theory and explore the validity of the evidence he used to prove it," according to the statement.
The statement added that Reeves will debate his theory with Egyptian Egyptologists and experts from the ministry. Based on the results of that meeting, Reeves will possibly have the opportunity to head to the famous tomb to prove his theory.
The results of the possible expedition will then be announced in an international press conference, as the ministry said it "cannot release any statements related to archaeological information or possible discoveries without carrying out theoretical and practical studies first."
The ministry said that the purpose of the procedures is not to "spread confusion among those interested in Egyptology and admirers of ancient Egyptian civilization around the world."
If Reeves' theory actually turns out to be correct, he will have solved one of the biggest mysteries of ancient Egypt, the mystery of the long lost tomb has been left unsolved for thousands of years, despite the efforts of generations of archaeologists and researchers.
However, many Egyptoligists have expressed concerns about the ambitious theory. Prominent Egyptian Egyptologist Zahi Hawass told Ahram Online that the study is not based on solid archaeological evidence.
"Reeves study is a theory for fame and publicity and not based on archaeological or scientific evidences," Hawass said, adding that archeologically it isn't possible for Nefertiti's tomb to be inside Tutankhamun's tomb.
On the other hand, University of Bristol Egyptologist Aidan Dodson expressed his own skepticism to The Guardian, saying that the possibility of hidden chambers existing behind the walls in Tut's tomb is "a reasonable suggestion."
"But it’s the jump to Nefertiti [being] behind the door that I would find somehow problematic. There’s absolutely no example of anyone ever doing that to a tomb."