Historians long believed Egypt’s New Kingdom started around 1550 BCE with King Ahmose I, who reunited Egypt after Hyksos rule. This era, known for famous pharaohs like Tutankhamun and Ramesses II, lasted nearly 500 years. But a new study challenges this timeline. Scientists from Ben-Gurion University and the University of Groningen used radiocarbon dating on Egyptian artifacts linked to the early New Kingdom. They compared these dates with those of the massive Thera volcanic eruption in the Aegean Sea. The eruption is dated to roughly 1700–1600 BCE. The study shows the volcanic eruption took place well before the start of Ahmose’s reign. This means the New Kingdom began later, with the Second Intermediate Period lasting longer than once thought. Lead author Hendrik J. Bruins said, "Our findings indicate that the Second Intermediate Period lasted considerably longer than traditional assessments, and the New Kingdom started later." This new dating helps align Egyptian history better with Minoan and Aegean chronologies. It also changes how historians view Egypt’s recovery from political chaos and the growth of its early imperial power.