King Tut's CAT scan to solve murder mystery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is one of the most puzzling whodunnits ever. Three thousand years after he died while King of Egypt, Tutankhamen's remains are to be X-rayed in an attempt to discover what - or who- killed him.
It is one of the most puzzling whodunnits ever. Three thousand years after he died while King of Egypt, Tutankhamen's remains are to be X-rayed in an attempt to discover what - or who- killed him.
Egyptian archaeologists plan to remove the teenager's body from its tomb in Luxor's Valley of the Kings by the end of the month. Tutankhamen's mummified remains will be taken to Cairo for tests which scientists hope will determine whether he died naturally or was murdered.
A CAT scan - a three-dimensional X-ray - of Tutankhamen's skull will be done by the end of the year.
"We will know about any diseases he had, any kind of injuries and his real age," Egypt's antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, told Reuters yesterday.
Speculation over the young King's death began in 1968, when an X-ray of Tutankhamen's mummy revealed a small chip of bone in his skull - sparking theories that he had been killed by a blow to the heard. Archaeologists are determined to discover the truth, citing Tutankhamen's high priest and his army commander as chief suspects for his murder.
"No one has seen the mummy since 1968," Mr Hawass said. Admitting that it had been mostly smashed to pieces by Carter's expedition, when tools were used to remove the King's gold mask, Hawass said he remained undeterred. "Even if it is just bone, we can examine each bone," he said.
Tutankhamen's remains were discovered in 1922 by the British archaeologist, Howard Carter.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments