That KV4 was originally quarried for the burial of Ramesses XI is evident from the decoration in the corridor and the foundation deposits associated with the shaft. It appears however that this plan was abandoned in favour of a burial elsewhere (perhaps in Lower Egypt). The most likely explanation for Pinudjem's later restoration and the insertion of his cartouche would be that he intended to usurp the tomb at the beginning of his kingship.

After Pinudjem's abandoned usurpation of KV4 it appears the tomb was used as a workshop to process funerary equipment from other royal tombs, most notably the burials of Thutmose I, Thutmose III and Hatshepsut. During the Byzantine period the open tomb was used by Copts as a residence and stable, while during the clearance of Tutankhamun's tomb KV62 by Howard Carter in the 1920s it was used as a dining area and a storeroom.

Although KV4 has been open since antiquity and graffiti from various ages attest to its popularity as an early tourist attraction it received little scholarly attention until John Romer's clearance in 1978-1980 CE.

The tomb of Rameses XI is located in the Southeast branch of the main wadi. The tomb was abandoned without being used for the king's burial. The pillars in Chamber F were incomplete and the cutting of Burial chamber J was not finished. This was the last royal tomb to be cut in the Valley of the Kings.

circa 1107-1077 BCE

Running back over 100 metres into the mountainside, it consists of a series of three gently sloping corridors leading towards the tomb's well chamber (although no shaft is cut in its floor) and two unfinished, pillared chambers. The latter of these chambers, the burial chamber, features a deep shaft cut into the centre of its floor; foundation deposits of Ramesses XI associated with it might indicate that its cutting was contemporary with the original plan of the tomb.

circa 1107-1077 BCE

Entryway A
Entryway A consists of a plain ramp that descends beneath an overhanging structure leading toward Gate B. The passageway exhibits visible structural deterioration, as faults within the stone have caused portions of the masonry to detach and fall away over time. The ramp measures approximately 3.97 meters in width and extends to a length of 12.14 meters, forming a relatively broad and elongated approach to the subsequent architectural element. The walls of this entryway preserve a notable concentration of graffiti inscriptions executed in multiple languages and scripts, indicating varied episodes of visitation and interaction with the monument. On the right (southern) wall, two Coptic graffiti are recorded alongside a single Demotic graffito and six inscriptions in Greek, while the left (northern) wall contains four Coptic graffiti and eight Greek examples. The distribution and linguistic diversity of these inscriptions suggest continued engagement with the space across different cultural and chronological contexts.

Corridor B
Corridor B has a height of approximately 4.15 meters, a width of 3.29 meters, and a length of 15.21 meters, forming a relatively spacious passage within the architectural complex. Both walls of the corridor were originally decorated, indicating that the space held a significant decorative or symbolic function within the monument. However, the preserved decoration has suffered considerable damage as a result of later interventions, particularly by Coptic visitors who intentionally defaced portions of the original wall surfaces. In the process, they carved Christian symbols and graffiti directly into the decorated walls, altering the earlier visual program of the corridor. In addition to these human-induced modifications, the corridor also exhibits structural deterioration, as faults in the stonework are visible across all four surfaces, including the walls, ceiling, and floor. These fractures have contributed to the overall state of preservation and reflect the natural stresses affecting the stone structure over time.

Corridor C
Corridor C is an undecorated, sloping passage characterized by the presence of rectangular horizontal recesses that are cut high into the walls at the beginning of the corridor. These recesses appear to have been intentionally incorporated into the architectural design and may have served a functional or structural purpose within the passage. Despite the otherwise plain surfaces of the corridor, some deterioration is evident, particularly in the areas located below the rear portions of these recesses, where damage to the wall surfaces has occurred. The corridor measures approximately 3.96 meters in height, 3.24 meters in width, and extends to a length of 12.56 meters, forming a moderately sized passage that continues the sequence of internal spaces within the monument.

Corridor D
Corridor D is a level and undecorated passage that continues the internal progression of the architectural complex in a relatively simple and unembellished form. Unlike some of the preceding spaces, this corridor does not display any decorative elements on its surfaces, suggesting a primarily functional role within the overall layout of the structure. The corridor measures approximately 3.97 meters in height, 3.2 meters in width, and extends for a length of 12.48 meters, creating a moderately spacious yet architecturally plain transitional space connecting adjacent sections of the monument.

Corridor E
Chamber E is a roughly cut, square-shaped space that remains undecorated, reflecting a utilitarian rather than ceremonial function within the architectural complex. Notably, the floor of the chamber lacks a well shaft, an element that might ordinarily be expected in a chamber of this type, suggesting either an incomplete construction phase or a deviation from standard architectural conventions. The absence of decorative features and functional installations underscores the chamber’s comparatively plain and unfinished character within the overall sequence of the structure.

Pillared Chamber F
Pillared Chamber F is a comparatively narrow space relative to earlier tombs, reflecting a more constrained architectural design. The chamber’s construction remains unfinished, as evidenced by the partial carving of its four internal pillars, which were not fully executed. A steep central descent begins at the entry of the chamber and continues downward to Gate G, indicating a deliberate transitional axis within the tomb’s layout. The chamber measures approximately 3.57 meters in height, 8.33 meters in width, and 10.99 meters in length, forming a modestly proportioned space that combines both structural and spatial complexity despite its incomplete execution.

Descent F
Descent F consists of a sloping ramp that exhibits an uneven gradient, decreasing in steepness beyond the second pair of pillars before rising again after passing beneath the rear (east) wall en route to Gate G. Structural deterioration is evident along the right (north) side of the descent between the pillars, indicating localized damage to the stone surfaces. The passage measures approximately 3.66 meters in height, 3.12 meters in width, and extends for a length of 13.51 meters, forming a moderately narrow and irregularly inclined transitional corridor that connects Pillared Chamber F to the subsequent gate within the tomb complex.

Corrdior G
Corridor G is a short, unfinished, and undecorated passage that forms a transitional space within the tomb complex. Both the left (north) and right (south) walls exhibit damage along the vertical edges of a diagonal fault that extends across the corridor, indicating structural weakness in addition to the incomplete construction. The corridor measures approximately 3.97 meters in height, 3.14 meters in width, and 4.78 meters in length, presenting a modestly sized, plain, and structurally compromised segment within the overall architectural sequence.

Burial Chamber J
Burial Chamber J is a large space defined by the presence of four rectangular pillars positioned within the chamber, with a vaulted ceiling extending between them. A deep shaft descends from the center of the floor, forming a significant architectural feature within the chamber. The space was left undecorated and exhibits clear evidence of incomplete construction, particularly at the rear of the chamber where the back wall and the rear pair of pillars were not fully cut from the rock. The four pillars themselves remain incomplete, while the front pair have sustained visible damage. In addition, portions of the vaulted ceiling have collapsed, indicating structural deterioration after the cessation of work. Architectural observations suggest that Burial Chamber J may represent an enlargement of what was originally intended to be Corridor G, following a decision not to extend the tomb further with an additional corridor, designated as Corridor H. This alteration in the original design may be indicated by cutting along the central axis of the chamber. The shaft appears to be contemporary with the construction of the chamber and may have been intended to serve as a concealed burial location. The chamber measures approximately 5.01 meters in height, 11.3 meters in width, and 12.5 meters in length, forming one of the most substantial spaces within the tomb complex.