The discovery was made by archaeologist Dr. Marina Baranova in Aswan, a city with historical significance that sits on the Nile.

She was leading a Spanish research team investigating the reign of Hatshepsut, the first female ruler of Egypt, when they discovered an unopened tomb in the cliffs. Channel 4’s “Secrets of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings” revealed how experts delicately excavated the site of the tomb before they broke in, making an incredible development despite treacherous conditions.

The narrator said: “Marina’s found a coffin that’s remained hidden from looters.

“But first she has to get to the tomb – a Saharan sandstorm is blowing in from the south.

“As the sandstorm reaches Gale force, even the 200-meter journey to the burial is a battle.

“In the shelter of the tomb, the team can now remove the lid of the sarcophagus coffin.

“They are about to find out whether anything has survived after 4,000 years.”

As the expert attempted to remove the coffin, she appeared shaken by its appearance.

She said: “It’s very heavy, but be carefully, it looks very scary.

“It’s like a scary movie, if this mummy is moving I’m going as fast as [I] can.

“It’s a very ugly mummy – it’s not really a mummy – just that it was simply put here, but not well bandaged.”

The series detailed how morgues were brought in to get a better understanding of the find.

It added: “The sarcophagus coffin contains no mummy but a skeleton shrouded in black material.

“Bone expert Dr Miguel Cecilio Botella Lopez has arrived to analyse the skeleton.

“They hope to find out who this person was and how they prepared for the afterlife.”

After he took off the bandages, Dr Botella revealed to the team it was a woman.

He added: “I’m sure it’s a woman. The age, I’m not sure, but more than 70.”

The team were left baffled by his estimate as people in ancient Egypt did not grow very old. Very high infant death rates due to high risks of infections resulted in a low average life expectancy.

However, those who survived childhood lived for slightly longer.

Dr. Barbonova continued in 2019: “The average age life expectancy was about 25, but for more women died during childbirth.

“When you have someone who is over 70, I don’t want to say I’m surprised, but it’s nice to know, it’s nice to get someone who’s really old.”

The statement about Tutankhamun being one of the most famous of all ancient Egyptian pharaohs, yet dying at the young age of 18, highlights the discrepancy between his historical significance and his short lifespan.

Human remains are crucial sources used to estimate age and life expectancy, providing both written and visual evidence. Occasionally, inscriptions on the tomb can confirm the age of the individual.

Secondary evidence, such as dental records, can also be used to calculate age and life expectancy as they provide further insights into the individual’s health and diet.

In ancient Egypt, elders were often revered as wise individuals, but there was no specific social position for the elderly in society.