CSI Investigation

Classified
Was King Tut Murdered?

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 King Tutankhamun, commonly referred to
as King Tut, was the pharaoh of ancient
Egypt for only 9 short years. After his father
Pharaoh Akhenaten died, he passed the
throne to his 9-year-old son. Tut married his

Background
half-sister, the daughter of Akhenaten and
his first wife Nefertiti. King Tut's rule began

King Tut
in 1332 B.C. The people had been
frustrated with his father who had moved
the capital and eliminated the traditional
Egyptian gods for one god, the sun god
Atena. As Tut was very young, he relied
heavily on two of his father's former
advisors. At the age of 18, he mysteriously
died and there are several theories as to
how he died. Was it an injury, was he
murdered, was there a power struggle? In
this fun CSI style history activity for kids,
your students will get a chance to examine
the evidence themselves and weigh into
the likely result.
You can let them explore the archeological discoveries or start out by
showing your students King Tut's tomb to set the stage. We know a
lot about this young pharaoh because his tomb remained untouched
by looters for over 3000 years! It was discovered, filled with
remarkable treasures, by Howard Carter in 1922. Included was a
dazzling coffin with 4 layers, the 3rd layer was made of ~2500 pounds
of pure gold! The death mask - arguably the most-known ancient
Egyptian artifact, was incredibly ornate and well-preserved. There
were over 5000 objects that took over 10 years to catalog. The
wooden artifacts allowed archeologists to learn a lot about what life
was like from the papyrus boats used on the Nile River to women
grinding grain, and more!

The big mystery is HOW did King Tutankhamun die? There are lots of
theories, but now it’s time for you to examine the evidence yourself
and decide how the young pharaoh died.
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 Clue #1 - King Tut’s skull X-ray
In 1968, x-rays were taken of King Tut’s
mummified corpse. Here are two images of
his skull. The x-ray on the left is pointing out
an area on the back and bottom of Tut’s
skull. The large white part is Tut’s skull.
Notice the smaller white part that the arrow
is pointing to. The separation between
these two white areas indicate an injury to
Tut’s skull. What could have caused the
injury in both of these images?
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Clue #2 – Letter to Hittites

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This document was found in the
ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa,
which dates back to the Amarna
period. It was written to the Hittite
king. The letter had read: “My
husband had died and I have no son.
They say you have many sons; you
might give me one of your sons to
become my husband. I would not
wish to take one of my subjects as a
husband….I am afraid.”
Note: The Hittites were sworn
enemies of Egypt at this time.
 Clue #3 –King Tut on a Chariot

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In 2013 a researcher conducted an autopsy and discovered Tut had a series of injuries
down one side of his body: broken left foot, shattered left kneecap, shattered ribs,
broken pelvis.
The autopsy surmised that Tut fell off his chariot in a race that was common in ancient
Egypt. The casket of the tomb of Tutankhamun had this (above) image painted.
Although it depicts the young Pharoah in battle on a chariot, perhaps it was re-writing
history as Egyptians tended to do to make the pharaoh look more powerful.
Clue #4 –King Tut Cain

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Scholars suggest Tutankhamun was buried with
130 sticks because he was disabled and needed
walking aids. But other kings of the 18th dynasty
used such sticks and staves. By comparing these
material culture remains with the staves found
from the tomb of Tutankhamun, my alternative
view is that these items served as essential kingly
insignia during his rule, not as walking aids.
Clue #5 – autopsy revealing malaria

Carsten Pusch remarks after 2021 autopsy, “badly compromised

immune system by a particularly virulent strain of malaria combined
with a degenerative bone disease that left him weak.

However people live with malaria all-of-the-time so did it CAUSE his

death? It might account for some illustrations of him using a cane.

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 Clue #6 – archeological evidence

More than 100

canes were
found in the
untouched tomb
with Tut’s
mummy by
Howard Carter
in 1922. Some of
the canes
showed signs of
wear.

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 Clue #7 – Image of Tut sitting

Images that show King Tut sitting while shooting an arrow, which
normally would have been done standing up.

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 Clue #8 - King Tut’s Knee X-ray
Previous examinations of the Tut mummy had revealed a leg fracture that happened sometime
before his death, possibly from a fall.
DNA tests from modern scientists have revealed the young ruler suffered from avascular bone
necrosis. This disease causes bones to be deprived of necessary blood supply which can lead to
weakened area of a bone. That in of itself would not have killed him, but if he had an injury or an
illness it could have.
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 Clues - King Tut Case © www.123homeschool4me.com

Autopsy by
In 1968 x- Carsten Pusch
rays were discovered
taken of particularly
King Tut’s virulent strain
mummified of
corpse.

Letter to enemies More than 100

the Hittites asking canes were
for a son to become found in King
husband as author Tut’s tomb
was afraid.

Images that
show King Tut
sitting while
shooting an
arrow, which
“should” have been
Side of the painted casket from the done standing up.
tomb of Tutankhamun, depicting the
King in battle in a chariot.

DNA tests revealed

King Tutankhamun avascular bone
was depicted with necrosis which deprives
walking sticks bones of necessary
blood supply. That
would not have killed
him, but in combination
with an injury or an
illness it could have.
 • Commoner
• Son of Yuya a charioteer
• Served in Egyptian Army,
became Comander

Person of Interest
• Advisor to Pharoah

King Tut Death

Akhenaten and his son
Tutankhamun
Ay (Aye) • Ruled Egypt for four years
from around 1323BC

Leads Right hand fingerprints

• Ay is sometimes claimed to be the father of Nefertiti (Grandpa of
King Tut’s wife)
• Advisor and possibly power behind the young ruler Tutankhamun
(also known as King Tut).
• Hittite prince who was dispatched to Egypt to marry
Ankhesenamun “disappeared” before marrying Tut’s widow
• Ay is depicted conducting the funerary rites for Tutankhamun
wearing the Blue Crown indicating that he was already named as
pharaoh
• Married Ankhesenamun (the widow of King Tut, the daughter of
Akhenaten, possibly his granddaughter
• Widow Ankhesenamun disappears from the historical record
shortly after the wedding.
• Witnesses suggest he murdered Tutankhamun.
• Some suggest that he was responsible for the deaths of Nefertiti,
Smenkhare and Tutankhamun’s two infant children

See
evidence

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 • Commoner
• First known records as
Great Commander of the
Army under Amenhotep III

Person of Interest
• Pharaoh of Egypt for 14-27

King Tut Death

years

Horemheb

Right hand fingerprints

Leads
• When Tutankhamun died, Horemheb was in the north leading the armies
of Egypt against the Hittites.
• Horemheb was designated "crown prince” as found inscribed in his private
Memphite tomb, but Ay married Akhenmum and became Pharaoh
• called `stern' by contemporaries
• Horemheb destroyed city of Akhetaten and moved the capital of Egypt
back to Memphis in order to distance himself from anything that had to do
with the rulers of the Amarna Period
• Horemheb demolished monuments of Akhenaten, reusing the rubble in his
own building projects, and usurped monuments of Tutankhamun and Ay.
Even tried to erase their names from monuments and historical records.
• Horemheb had no surviving children, although examinations of his wife
Mutnedjmet's mummy show that she gave birth several times, and she was
buried with an infant, suggesting that she and her last child died in
childbirth.
• Horemheb appointed his vizier Paramesse as his successor, who would
assume the throne as Ramesses I.

See
evidence

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