An ostracon written in hieratic script from the time of Ramesses III mentions the founding of a tomb for a royal prince, likely this tomb. The unfinished state of a couple of rooms in the tomb along with scant archeological evidence suggests that the tomb was never used. Some have suggested that it was originally intended for use by the prince regent who would succeed as Ramesses IV, and who started building his own tomb (KV2) soon after he came to the throne.

Though open since Ancient times, the tomb was only properly excavated in 1912 by archeologist Harry Burton.

KV3 was never completed, and there is no clear evidence that it was ever used for a burial. It has been suggested that Ramesses III commissioned the tomb for the Crown Prince Ramesses IV. When the prince later ascended the throne as Ramesses IV, he constructed his own tomb, KV2, and work on KV3 was abandoned.

In a later period, the tomb was reused as a Byzantine chapel. Fires lit within the tomb during this phase of occupation caused extensive soot deposits, which blackened many of the ceilings.

circa 1200 BCE

It is similar in design to the "straight axis" tombs typical of this dynasty. In terms of its design it closely follows that used for tombs in the Valley of the Queens, and its size reflects the effort that would have gone into burying a member of the royal family. The tomb is located on the main path, close to the entrance to the Valley.

circa 1200 BCE

Entryway A
The entryway measures 2.71 m in width and 8.51 m in length. Seven modern steps descend from the present valley floor to the entryway, which slopes gently downward toward Gate B. A modern retaining wall has been constructed along the sides and ends of the entryway in order to stabilize the surrounding area.

Corridor B
Corridor B has a height of 3.13 m, a width of 2.73 m, and a length of 9.72 m. The walls preserve images of Ramesses III preceding figures of a prince. These images were carved through a plaster coating and into the underlying rock. Surviving traces indicate a sequence of at least three scenes on each wall, each depicting the prince standing behind the king while both face a deity.

On the left (north) wall, the deities represented are Ptah, a damaged figure, and Osiris. On the right (south) wall, the figures include Ra-Horakhty, Thoth, and another damaged figure.

At the top of both sides of the corridor runs a frieze of cartouches of Ramesses III, flanked by pendant uraei. A rectangular cutting in the left (north) wall represents the beginning of an unfinished side chamber (Ba), while the gate to a completed side chamber (Bb) is located in the opposite wall.

Gate Ba
Gate Ba is a partially cut entrance that would have led to a side chamber that was never completed. The cutting measures 1.20 m in height, 1.04 m in width, and 1.85 m in length.

Side Chamber Bb
Side Chamber Bb is located to the right (south) of Corridor B. The chamber measures 2.10 m in height, 3.13 m in width, and 4.66 m in length.

Pillared Chamber F
Pillared Chamber F measures 3.13 m in height, 7.71 m in width, and 6.81 m in length. The decoration that may once have existed in this chamber has now been completely lost. Two pairs of pillars flank the central axis of the chamber.

In the center of the right (south) wall, directly opposite Gate Fa, Gate Fb marks the beginning of another side chamber that was never completed. The ceiling preserves traces of ancient repairs, suggesting that structural issues may have occurred during construction.

Side Chamber Fa
Side Chamber Fa is located to the left (north) of Pillared Chamber F. The chamber measures 2.05 m in height, 3.16 m in width, and 4.57 m in length. No traces of decoration survive within this room.

Chamber G
Chamber G measures 3.02 m in height, 6.156 m in width, and 2.89 m in length. This chamber is notably wide but shallow and features a vaulted ceiling. No surviving traces of decoration remain. The ceiling is blackened by soot, indicating the presence of fires during a later period of reuse.

Chamber H
Chamber H is similar in plan to Chamber G but is slightly taller and wider. It measures 3.02 m in height, 6.15 m in width, and 2.89 m in length. As in the preceding chamber, the ceiling is heavily blackened by soot, which suggests that the chamber was used for accommodation during a later phase of occupation.

Chamber J
Chamber J measures 2.56 m in height, 2.72 m in width, and 4.25 m in length. No surviving traces remain to indicate whether this chamber was originally decorated.