King Tut's tomb hiding an even bigger prize?

CAIRO -- CBS News' Alex Ortiz was drawn to what could be the world's best-known archaeological zone, Egypt's famed Valley of the Kings, not for the kings, but by the secret of the queens.

Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves, from the University of Arizona, is on an expedition beneath the sacred sands where, years ago, scientists unearthed the burial chamber of Tutankhamun's tomb.

"It's probably the greatest archaeological discovery that's ever been made," he told Ortiz.

But Reeves believes he's found one even greater -- and right in the same room. Markings on the walls could indicate a secret door to more chambers within the tomb structure.

"I was astonished to find that there were certain, what looked like artificial features; absolutely straight lines at 90 degrees to the floor," he said.

Another possible clue to what could lie within; the art and design in Tut's tomb suggests it wasn't built for a king.

"That is a tomb type favored by queens," Reeves said.

And he has one in mind; Queen Nefertiti, the 14th century B.C. beauty who some say could be Tutankhamun's mother, and whose burial chamber has yet to be found.

On the other side of a wall in Tut's tomb, Reeves and his team believe the Egyptian queen is buried. But they can't just knock it down; they had to find another way to see through it.

Non-invasive radar and thermal imaging will be used to test Reeves' theory in the coming months.

If he's proven correct, Egypt's Minister of Antiquities believes the discovery will be "more important than Tutankhamun."

Over the years many people have claimed to have found the queen's tomb.

"If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, we move on," Reeves told CBS News. "But it's something that we can't just ignore, because if I happen to be right... it will change everything."