DNA test reveals Tutankhamun’s likely 'cause of death' 3,300 years later
The elusive death of King Tutankhamun has long been discussed, but it looks like a DNA test may have revealed what killed the ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
Experts have been examining the former leader's remains since they were discovered in 1922, but now researchers believe that new genetic evidence points towards one cause of death in particular.
King Tut was around 18 when he died, reigning over Ancient Egypt for nine years. Although he was a boy king, the teenager went down as one of the most famous rulers of his time, with his passing shrouded in mystery.
Howard Carter was responsible for unearthing the late king's remains, with the British archaeologist also discovering more than 5,000 artefacts alongside it.
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While uncovering the cause of death for a mummified person can pose a challenge, due to factors such as deterioration of the remains and mummification as a process, DNA can unveil more information about the person's health.
In a 2010 study carried out by Cairo University's Faculty of Medicine and two German DNA specialists at the National Research Centre, the team took tissue samples from the mummified remains.
Researchers believe the genetic evidence suggested Tutankhamun may have passed away as a result of multiple bouts of malaria.
Getting the disease nowadays wouldn't be as big of an issue, with the mosquito-borne illness now easily treatable, but when King Tut contracted malaria over 3,300 years ago, there was no known cure.
The youngest pharaoh in history would suffer from repeated cases of the illness, and among other factors, it is now being considered the primary cause of his death.
Tim Batty, the general manager of the Tutankhamun Exhibition, explained: "The tests show that Tutankhamun was infected with malaria that may have killed him."
The study further found that the young king's grandparents were the pharaoh Amenhotep III and his queen Tiye, with them both also succumbing to malaria, as Battu called the discovery 'another piece of the great jigsaw surrounding the life and death of Tutankhamun'.
While the results suggested that King Tut was the son of the anonymous mummy in tomb KV55 as part of the Valley of Kings, researchers added that his father could have been the pharaoh Akhenaten.
Batty went on: "In addition to genetic information on Tut's family connections the DNA tests have reveal further information such as diseases and inherited problems that may have afflicted Tutankhamun."
While inbreeding was common in royal families back then, this could lead to the increased risk of genetic diseases and birth defects.
One of these conditions was Köhler disease, a rare bone disorder in the foot of children, restricting blood flow to the bone tissue and causing necrosis.
Previous CT scans found that he could have necrosis of the left foot, and walking canes were also found in his tomb.
"Walking impairment and malarial disease sustained by Tutankhamun is supported by the discovery of canes and an afterlife pharmacy in his tomb," the researchers identified.
While we may be closer to understanding how King Tut died, the answer isn't certain and there are five main theories people believe in.
Malaria
As mentioned, new research points towards the illness costing King Tut his life, though it may not have been the only cause.
The reality is that it's probably a lot more complicated than that, with a number of factors contributing.
The disease may well have overwhelmed his immune system and sent him to the tomb, but what else is there?
Murder
Some believe that the boy king was murdered, a possibility that was thrust into the mainstream by Egyptologist Robert Brier, who suggested that damage caused to the back of Tut's skull in a 1968 X-ray looked to be a blow to the back of the head.
There were three suspects in his suspected killing, with the first being Ay, King Tut's successor who was a powerful courtier with a military background.
Next is Horemheb, a powerful man in Tut's court who is suggested to be Tut's true provisional heir, and was ousted for the role as King by Ay.
The third is Tut's sister-wife Anhkesenamun, with her infamous letter to the Hittites an effort to seize power of Egypt herself.
While this popular theory would be interesting, closer scans and inspections of King Tut's mummy in 2005 and 2016 found that the damage on his skull looked to be a side effect of the mummification process.
Essentially, there isn't enough evidence to back up the speculation.
A chariot crash
Some believe that the late King was in a fatal chariot accident, with damage done to his body suggesting that physical trauma caused his demise.
Chariots were part of leisure for elites in Ancient Egypt, and with many artistic depictions of the leader riding one, King Tut's tomb contained six disassembled chariots.
With missing ribs, a broken leg, and a missing heart, some believe that King Tut would have bled out in minutes after the crash if he wasn't killed on impact.
But once again, further studies revealed that his missing ribs were present when the body was uncovered, with the organs possibly being damaged, removed, or stolen in the early 20th century.
Broken leg
The compound fracture in his left leg may have caused his death, as the lack of any signs of healing suggested that he had broken it shortly before.
It may have gotten infected, and as many would have done in a world without antibiotics, he would have succumbed to his injury as a result.
However, the leader could have been affected by other health problems, with the break just piling it on the teen.
An array of complications
While a broken leg and malaria may have contributed to his death, analysis of King Tut's mummy and family pointed towards a number of genetic and medical conditions that could have affected him.
Possible conditions include: Marfan syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Frohlich syndrome, scoliosis, and sickle cell anemia.
A diagnosis in 2012 also suggested that the 18-year-old had temporal lobe epilepsy, which may explain religious visions experienced by historical figures, as his father and great-grandfather had spoken of these relating to sun or light.
Epilepsy could also cause death, injuries, or choking that may have killed King Tut.
Topics: Ancient Egypt, History, Archaeology
Joshua Nair