Tutankhamun was the last Pharaoh of the XVIII dynasty. A relatively unimportant King, he died in 1352BC at the age of 19 after approximately 10 years on the throne.
Various mysteries have surrounded the king, not least being the manner of his death. Application of modern techniques such as CT or CAT scans, have allowed archaeologists to learn more about the potential cause of death and even what the young pharaoh looked like.
Tutankhamun’s Mummy
Tutankhamun’s mummy is not easy to analyse by non invasive techniques alone. A not particularly well preserved mummy, further difficulties were created when it was discovered by Howard Carter in the 1920s. The jewellery and gold mask placed over the 16 layers of bandages that covered the pharaoh’s embalmed body had to be cut way as they had fused to the corpse.
Carter was forced to cut the mummy into pieces. Although it was later reconstructed, it was difficult to tell what damage had been caused before and what after death. The mummy has been x rayed three times since its discovery but the findings were inconclusive.
The CAT Scan of the Mummy
In 2005, the fragile body of the Pharaoh was subjected to a CT or CAT scan in order to learn more about his life and death. CAT scanning is a non invasive technique which allows a three dimensional view within the body. It is more detailed than an X ray and revealed new information about the Pharaoh’s life as well as shedding life on old mysteries.
A Healthy Pharaoh
The CT scan revealed that despite possible genetic abnormalities due to interbreeding, King Tutankhamun was a healthy, well nourished young man before his death. The king’s bones had no signs of malnutrition or disease in childhood. A bend in the King’s spine, previously through to be a physical deformity was in fact caused to the position of the body during embalming.
The scan did show that Tut had a slight cleft palate and impacted wisdom teeth. His skull was also slightly elongated.
The Death of King Tut
The cause of Tutankhamun’s death has been hotly debated over time. X rays in the 1960s revealed a shard of bone in the pharaoh’s skull, which prompted a theory he was murdered.
The CT scan has provided evidence which suggests that the pharaoh’s death could have been from natural causes. The scan showed that at the time of his death, King Tut had a broken leg. Whilst this in itself would not have killed him, it is possible that the break was accompanied by an open wound that could have become infected. Subsequent investigations have found traces of the malaria parasite in the pharaoh’s body. It is possible that a bout of malaria could have finished off the weakened pharaoh.
The Facial Reconstruction of King Tutankhamun
The CT scans have also enabled archaeologists to reconstruct Tutankhamun’s face. Using digital images from the mummy, they were able to establish that Tutankhamun’s features were ‘Caucasoid’ or similar to features found in European, north African, middle eastern and Indian peoples.
It was also a very feminine looking skull. The cranium was elongated at the back and the chin was receding. The brow ridge was also non existence.
These scans were combined with wooden sculptures of the pharaoh which helped determine eyebrow thickness and the shape of the nose and the lips. The resulting overall picture was of a delicately featured young man.
Archaeological Analysis and Egyptology
The archaeological analysis of King Tutankhamun’s mummy has allowed experts to learn more about the king’s health, appearance and perhaps the manner of his death. Similar methods can be applied to other Egyptian mummies to help Egyptologist learn more about life in ancient Egypt.
Sources
Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (1994) Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn. London: Thames and Hudson
Illustrated Dictionary of Archaeology (1977) Book Club Associates: London
Natasha Sheldon - A writer since 2000, Natasha Sheldon holds a BA Hons in ancient history and archaeology and MA in ancient history and historiography.
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