Miriam Osburn Describe how the investigation of King Tuts tomb and the mystery of his death highlights

the evolution of the archaeological process. King Tutankhamun was a Pharaoh of Egypt in the 18th dynasty, c. 1300 BC. He is a universally recognised historical figure, ruling for ten years from age 9 to age 19. For a long period since the discovery of his tomb in 1923, Tutankhamun and his death has been shrouded in mystery, alongside the media perpetuated legend of Tuts curse. Tutankhamuns tomb was first uncovered in 1923 by archaeologist Howard Carter and patron Lord Carnarvon, who had been seeking an undisturbed tomb for the recovery of precious artefacts. This discovery was sensationalised across the globe, and sparked a new-found interest in ancient Egypt. From the opening of the tomb, Carters excavation practice was extremely flawed, with many significant artefacts being removed for relocation and sizeable maltreatment of Tutankhamuns mummified body. Recent examinations of the body give evidence that Carter broke both Tutankhamuns legs, his neck and damaged his chest, attempting to remove the body from the innermost sarcophagus. This treatment is today seen as incompetent and disrespectful to such an important historical figure to both his time and ours - many excavations in earlier periods were primarily for financial gain and press coverage. This practice is otherwise known as treasurehunting. Another investigation and X-ray on the body of Tutankhamun in the 1960s provided evidence that the boy-king died of a blow to the head, due to an apparent brain haemorrhage. This they were unable to confirm, because of the lack of clarity in the X-ray scan. Historians and archaeologists considered several possible theories for the death of King Tutankhamun. Likely scenarios included political murder, an accident involving a sharp blow, possibly during battle, a broken ankle and an impacted wisdom tooth, but the recent examination and CT scan of Tutankhamuns body in 2004 disproved several theories regarding the mystery surrounding his death. Under the clearer scan, his apparent brain haemorrhage has been shown to only be a build up of embalming fluid, and a coin sized hole near the base of the skull, which could have been a possible site of a spear to the head, was most likely drilled after death for the embalming process. The absence of ribs and a sternum at the front of the chest was also more probably due to the embalming process. Remnants of a plaster cast around the ankle give evidence that it was damaged pre-mortem, and not serious enough to warrant death. Due not only to a badly broken knee and missing knee-cap, but to indications of an infection in the area, it seems most plausible that Tutankhamuns death was a result of an infected battle wound or accidental injury. Analysis of an air sample from another untouched Egyptian sarcophagus provided more evidence of the existence of a form of toxic mould inside the ancient tombs, which could have contributed to Lord Carnarvons death a few months after his entering of the tomb. Despite this, the series of deaths after the opening of King Tutankhamuns tomb were arguably due to natural causes, and only sensationalised by the media. Today, Tutankhamuns mummified body remains on display to the public from a raised platform, removed from one of his iconic golden sarcophagi and placed in a climate-controlled glass case in an attempt to slow the heightened decomposition rate caused by the humid warmth emitted by tourists in his tomb and final resting place. This contrasts greatly to the disregard of responsible archaeological practices shown in the past. In 1923, Tutankhamuns tomb was discovered by accident by a young boy from the local settlement, but locating archaeological sites today is both more complex and logical. Indicators such

as soil and shadow marks, resistivity surveying, and clues and site descriptions from ancient literature can all aid in the unearthing of historical sites important to our understanding of the past. Excavations of archaeological sites in the present day require much more than just an archaeologist or historian. Professionals involved in the archaeological process include surgeons, pathologists, botanists, zoologists, and, particularly in the case of many excavations related to mummification, people such as palaeoanthropologists, who specialise in the ancient physical remains of humans. The expertise of these specialists often allow for a much greater understanding of both the interpretation physical remains and a grasp of the studied way of life. The investigation of King Tutankhamuns tomb and remains over the last century strongly highlight the advancements made in archaeological processes in the last few decades alone. Not only has greater awareness of the importance of unveiling the mysteries of civilisations past come into place over time, but developments in technology, such as CT scanning, has opened new doorways to knowledge. As there are many discovered and undiscovered historical sites yet to be unearthed, it is hoped that further evolutions in archaeology, and the processes of restoration and conservation, will soon allow us to have a greater understanding of the past.