Solving Mummy Mystery Helps History Come Alive

In an extreme "cold case," investigators of what may be a 3,000-year-old murder took a big step forward in collecting fresh clues.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2005, researchers removed King Tutankhamen's mummy from its tomb for a CT scan to create a digital 3-D model of his remains.

Experts believe that the Egyptian pharaoh reigned over the empire for 11 years, and then died when he was about 17.

The cause of his death has always been somewhat suspicious. The way in which his body was mummified was one clue, experts say, that this wasn't a typical royal burial. X-rays taken in 1969 showing bone fragments lodged in the king's skull support one theory -- that Tut was murdered.

Investigators hope that the CT scans will shed some light on this mystery, and the results and their interpretations should be announced by the end of the month.

But whether it can show the cause of death conclusively or not, this digital edge may at least provide some additional insight into King Tut's life and the culture of his people.

Like many artifacts found in the Nile River region, Tut and other mummies have helped experts piece together the puzzle of ancient Egyptian life.

In this week's lesson, you'll uncover more of these mysteries yourself, learning about how such artifacts can reveal much about a complex culture's history and beliefs. This will also help you get a grip on the long line of ancient Egypt's pharaohs.

A Better Life After Death?

Let's get started with an overview of the Life of Ancient Egypt at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

As you browse through the hall, you can click an underlined word to read about the term in-depth. Click Back to return where you left.

After reading the introduction, click Next for your Orientation and review a brief Chronology.

Next, discover how The Natural World influenced the way Egyptians lived. In what ways did the region's geology dictate how people used the different areas?

But the natural world didn't only affect physical surivival, it also inspired the Daily Life, Gods & Religion, and Funerary Customs of ancient Egyptians.

What evidence exists that illustrates how local and regional rulers may have had a hand in shaping ancient Egyptian customs? Why would people want to believe that life after death is better than life on Earth as we know it?

As you have discovered, most ancient Egyptians -- not just the royal family -- were concerned about a proper post-mortem send-off.

Since this was such an important aspect to their culture, let's dig deeper into Ancient Egypt at the Museum of Science.

Let's dive right into the Mummification section. This is where you'll learn about the museum's Mummy in Residence, including what has been revealed by scanning the Mummy in 3-D. You'll also make the connection between Modern Technology & Ancient Secrets, and dig up some details about Mummification in Egypt.

Next, read about the Excavation of ancient Egyptian sites and How It's Done. Why is knowing the context in which an artifiact was uncovered important to interpreting the artifact's purpose?

Now, explore Egyptian Afterlife -- virtually, of course. Learn about how Tombs, Mummication, Mummy Cases, and Funerary Objects all played a role in securing a good afterlife.

In what ways did ancient Egyptians believe a person's earthbound life affected his or her afterlife? What was the importance of family?

Before leaving the site, make sure to Plan Your Journey to the Afterlife with EternityTravel! Which choices were most important to you and why?

The Pharaohs

Okay, so it's pretty obvious that the higher rank a person held in Egyptian society, then the wealthier he or she was and the better the burial.

Fortunately for modern Egyptologists, the ruling force of pharaohs spanned hundreds of years, which allowed mummification and other customs to be practiced uninterrupted and on a huge scale during that time.

Remnants of tombs, temples, and other key locations and artifacts have thus provided a relatively strong trail littered with tidbits about the kings and the eras they ruled.

To find out what experts have pieced together, let's visit PBS to uncover more Secrets of the Pharaohs.

First, browse the Timeline of the Pharaohs and the Historical Maps to get a better understanding of how the region's culture evolved over millennia.

At what times and under what circumstances were religious and spiritual beliefs independent of political events? When were religion and politics directly linked and why?

Take some time for Digging Deeper here, by exploring King Tut's tomb, Khufu's pyramid, and how mummies are made step-by-step.

What is known about the purposes of these artifacts, structures, and processes, and what is still unknown?

Lastly, check out the Secrets & Science section. Here, you'll learn about other techniques for gathering clues in the 21st century, including Mass Spectrometry, Extracting Mummy DNA, Deciphering Disease in Ancient Mummies, and Limits of the New Science.

What secrets about ancient Egypt -- its people and customs -- have these technologies revealed? What "facts" must be left to expert interpretation? What factors influence these interpretations?

For further explorations into how mummies have helped investigators construct ancient histories of other regions, visit the Discovery Channel's Mummy Mania site.

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