Use the links above to see more photos.

In their ongoing effort to foil grave-robbers, the rulers of ancient Egypt looked for out-of-the-way places to be buried. The Valley of the Kings at the edge of the western desert was their site of choice during the 18th & 19th dynasty. Not that these efforts put a stop to the looting, but it helped for a while.

This gathering of cadavers made it easier for archeologists in the 19th & 20th centuries to find 'treasures' and proceed with their own version of international plunder. (This year marks the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun in this valley.)

And last of all it makes things easier for modern-day tourists. The valley is just a short bus ride west of downtown Luxor. And there are dozens of tombs to see.

CLICK HERE to see some details of these tombs.