Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
Introduction
"Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues" is a science and history article by A.R. Williams, originally published in the National Geographic. It describes the CT (computed tomography) scanning of the mummy of Tutankhamun — the famous boy king of ancient Egypt — in January 2005. The chapter blends Egyptology, modern science, and the ongoing mystery of Tut's death to create a fascinating account of how ancient history and cutting-edge technology intersect.
Key Concepts and Themes
Tutankhamun (Tut) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt who ruled from about 1332 to 1322 BCE, dying around the age of 19. He is one of the most famous rulers in history, largely due to the discovery of his intact tomb in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter.
The 18th Dynasty was one of Egypt's most powerful ruling families. Tut was one of its last pharaohs. He reversed many religious changes made by his father (believed to be Akhenaten) and restored traditional Egyptian religion.
CT Scan (Computed Tomography) is a medical imaging technology that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of an object. In the 2005 study, over 1,700 CT images were created from Tut's mummy to study his remains without further damaging them.
Mummification was the ancient Egyptian process of preserving bodies for the afterlife. The body was desiccated (dried out), organs were removed and stored in canopic jars, and the body was wrapped in linen.
Howard Carter was the British archaeologist who discovered Tut's intact tomb (KV62) in the Valley of the Kings on 4 November 1922 — considered the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century.
Timeline of Key Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| ~1332 BCE | Tutankhamun becomes pharaoh |
| ~1322 BCE | Tutankhamun dies (age ~19) |
| 4 Nov 1922 | Howard Carter discovers Tut's tomb |
| 1968 | Anatomy team X-rays mummy, finds bone fragments |
| Jan 2005 | CT scan of Tut's mummy conducted |
Worked Examples
Who was Tutankhamun, and why is he famous?
Tut was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty who reigned for about a decade before dying at approximately 19 years of age. He is famous not so much for his rule as for the spectacular riches found in his tomb when it was discovered intact by Howard Carter in 1922. His tomb contained golden funeral equipment, chariots, jewellery, and — most importantly — his golden death mask, which became an iconic image of ancient Egypt.
What happened when Howard Carter opened the tomb?
Carter's team spent several years carefully cataloguing the contents of the four-chambered tomb. The innermost chamber held Tut's mummy in three nested coffins, the innermost one made of solid gold. Carter noted that when he removed the mummy, it had been stuck to the inner coffin by hardened ritual oils — causing some accidental damage to the mummy. Nonetheless, the discovery was momentous for understanding 18th Dynasty Egypt.
What did the 1968 X-ray of Tut's mummy reveal?
In 1968, a team from the University of Liverpool X-rayed the mummy and found bone fragments inside the skull. This led to a long-held theory that Tut may have been murdered — struck on the head. For decades, this "murder theory" dominated popular accounts. However, later analysis, including the 2005 CT scan, cast doubt on this conclusion.
How was the 2005 CT scan conducted?
In January 2005, a CT scan machine was brought to the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Tut's mummy was carefully carried out of its tomb at night (to avoid the heat of day and tourist traffic) and placed in the scanning machine. The scan produced 1,700 cross-sectional images of the mummy in about three minutes. These were then used to construct a three-dimensional virtual image of the body.
What did the CT scan reveal about Tut's cause of death?
The 2005 scan found no evidence of a blow to the skull. The bone fragments inside the skull were likely displaced after death, possibly during Carter's handling of the mummy. The scan did reveal a broken leg, which some scientists speculate could have become infected and caused death. However, the scan team concluded that the cause of death remains uncertain — the "saga continues."
Why does the article refer to the ongoing mystery as a "saga"?
A saga is a long story involving many events over time. Tut's story — from his mysterious death in antiquity, to the discovery of his tomb, to the X-ray debates, to the CT scan — spans thousands of years and continues even today. Each scientific advance opens new questions rather than closing them. The word "saga" thus captures the endless, unresolved quality of historical inquiry: the past never fully gives up its secrets.
What is the significance of the Valley of the Kings?
The Valley of the Kings (Wadi el-Muluk) is a rocky valley on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor, Egypt. It was used for royal burials during the New Kingdom (1550–1070 BCE), containing over 60 tombs. The valley's remote, hidden location was intended to protect royal mummies from tomb robbers. Most tombs were looted in antiquity, making Tut's intact tomb (KV62) extraordinarily rare.
Common mistakes
Students often confuse Tutankhamun with Akhenaten (his probable father, who introduced sun-worship). Remember: Tut restored traditional Egyptian religion. Also, do not state that the CT scan proved Tut was murdered — on the contrary, the scan cast doubt on the murder theory. Finally, Carter did not open the tomb to steal from it; he led a legitimate scientific archaeological expedition funded by Lord Carnarvon.
Summary
This chapter traces the discovery, examination, and ongoing mystery surrounding the mummy of Tutankhamun, the young Egyptian pharaoh. From Howard Carter's dramatic 1922 discovery to the state-of-the-art 2005 CT scan, each investigation has added knowledge while leaving key questions — particularly about Tut's cause of death — unanswered. The chapter celebrates the power of modern science to illuminate the ancient past, while acknowledging that history's greatest mysteries may never be fully resolved.