A storage room for a pharaoh's overflow

WVA, also known as KV A, is a small single room tomb in the Western Valley of the Kings. It is associated with WV22, the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Located 60 metres (200 ft) south of the tomb of Amenhotep III, the structure was discovered by Karl Richard Lepsius in 1845. Lepsius recorded that the tomb entrance was buried 10 feet below ground level and contained earthenware vases bearing the name of a king hitherto unknown.

The doorway of WVA preserves most of its original stone blocking, which is a rare feature among the tombs in the valley. In the 1990s, a team from Waseda University led by Sakuji Yoshimura and Jiro Kondo re-excavated the site. Their work revealed that the tomb was likely used by craftsmen during the cutting and decorating of the nearby royal tomb and was later utilized to store overflow from that tomb itself.

The objects recovered during the 1990s excavation consisted mostly of pottery sherds, including wine jars and blue painted pottery. Researchers also found wine jar stands, jar sealings, and jar dockets dating to years 32 and 37 of Amenhotep III's reign. Additionally, the presence of ostraca used as paint palettes and a length of rope further supports the site's role as a workspace and storage area for the royal construction project.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata