Armchair Archaeologist: Family History Research

Death mask of King Tutankhamun

I love family history research; i've been working on my own family tree for years and have discovered a few branches and skeletons under that tree. So imagine working on something really old, like tutankhamun's family tree. There is written text detailing a variety of things from that period, but if you want to be really sure, just like some mums and dads want to be in today’s world, you get a DNA test, and that is exactly what the cairo museum have done.

During a press conference on february, 17th 2010, dr zahi hawass announced the results of the "king tutankhamun family project". A number of royal mummies had undergone DNA and other tests under the watchful eye of the world’s media.

I'll outline the research as best i can, as fascinated as i am on this it can go way over my head. Eleven mummies believed to be members of tutankhamun’s family (end of the 18th Dynasty) were examined through CT scanning (X-ray Computed Tomography): this is very detailed scanning so that a 3D image can be generated by computer. The image shows bodily structures based on density. This allows for non-destructive, detailed study of the mummy, which is really good. Two to six samples of bone marrow (DNA) per mummy were also taken. These samples of bone tissue were extracted and purified, with precautions taken against contamination with other DNA (which might have been transferred onto the mummy during embalming, burial, re-burial, and modern examination). Fragments of the DNA-sequence, which can be used to establish linage, were then amplified. In addition, the samples were tested for a variety of illnesses such as malaria.

Five other thought to be royal mummies from earlier in the 18th dynasty underwent less extensive research as they were to be used as a control group.

These tests where carried out by two laboratories so the findings can be compared and therefore provide inclusive confirmation, 1 laboratory is located in the basement of the egyptian museum, cairo; the 2nd at cairo university's faculty of medicine.

The mummies which were examined are: (* identification uncertain before this project)

Tutankhamun - tomb KV62 - CT & DNA

Thuya - tomb KV46 - CT & DNA

Yuya - tomb KV46 - CT & DNA

unknown person * if male, thought to be Akhenaten, Smenkhkare, if female, Tiye or Nefertiti) - tomb KV55 - CT & DNA

Amenhotep III - tomb KV35 - CT & DNA

unknown female "the younger lady" * thought to be either Nefertiti, or another queen or princess) - tomb KV35 - CT & DNA

unknown female "the elder lady" * thought to be either Nefertiti, Tiye, or another queen or princess) - tomb KV35 - CT & DNA

fetus 1&2 (daughters of Tutankhamun and Ankhesenamun) - tomb KV62 - CT & DNA

2 unknown females (queens or princesses) - tomb KV21 - CT & DNA

unknown male (CCG61065) * thought to be Thutmose I - tomb TT320 - CT & DNA

Mummies from the control group

Thutmose II - TT320 - CT

Ahmose-Nefertari - TT320 - DNA

Hatshepsut * identity confirmed june 2007 through previous research by Hawass - tomb KV60 - CT & DNA

Sitra-In * identity confirmed june 2007 through previous research by Hawass - tomb KV60 - CT & DNA

Of the eleven mummies used only four were identified with confidence through archaeological evidence before testing began. For instance the mummy found in KV55 has been debated for years - even the sex of the mummy was in disputed not to mention the age of the deceased. DNA testing has now proved that the remains are male finally ruling out the possibility that they are those of nefertiti being buried as king smenkhkare; although it has been speculated that smenkhkare could be the brother of akenhaten and father of tutankhamun.

What else did the results say?

Comparing the genetic fingerprints of the mummies from the 2 independent labs as previously mentioned, it was found that the mummies of tutankhamun, the unknown male from KV55 (* either Akhenaten or Smenkhkare), and amenhotep III share the same paternal lineage.

Beautiful Armana bust of Queen Tiye

The unknown female known as "the elder lady", from tomb KV35, was found to have very close connections to yuya and thuya, and she was thus identified finally as Tiye, queen of amenhotep III. The "younger lady" from the same tomb along with the male from KV55 (* either akhenaten or smenkhkare), both showed very close connections to amenhotep III and tiye, making them son and daughter of this royal couple. They also both turned out to be the parents of tutankhamun and therefore married siblings.

Tutankhamun's baby daughters;

it should be noted that these babies were not

full term and this was the reason for their

unusual apperance

Confirmation was given that Tutankhamun was the father of the 2 female fetuses found in his tomb, but their mother is still to be confirmed, although ankhesenamun is the most likely as there has been no record of other wives during his life. One of the two females from KV21 are thought to be ankhesenamun as genetic markers linked them both to the male from KV55 who has now been confirmed as tutankamun father also and we know from written documentation that tutankhamun married his half-sister therefore these women are possibly nefertiti's daughters, but as she has yet to be found confirmation could not be given.

Statue of Akhenaten/Amenhotep IV

The much disputed mummy found in KV55 was given not only a gender, parents and descendents but a name, he is Akhenaten, this may be taken partly from the fact that he had gentic matches to the two unknown women and the written information that his daughter from nerfertiti married his son tutankhamun. But finally his strange look was put to rest; he didn't have marfans syndrome or another weird disease that would make him deformed as debated through the years. So I, and others, are right about the artistic licence given to statues and drawings of the armana period.

Canopic jar of the Lady Kiya,

found in Tutankhamun's Tomb,

further evidence of her connection

Now although the "younger lady" was identified as tutankhamun's mother, full blooded sister of akhenaten, daughter of amenhotep III and tiye, a name could not be confirmed. Although i recall that there is a picture glyph and cartouche of kiya in a deceased pose and her infant tutankaten, the birth name of tutankhamun, in the arms of a wet-nurse, on the walls of the Royal Wadi in armana. It is known that amenhotep III and tiye had several daughters, those he did not marry himself were nebetah, beketaten and kiya, they could have all been married to akhenaten. I think it's pretty safe to say the the 'younger lady' is Kiya.

The two women from KV21 could not be identified as their genetic fingerprint was incomplete, but time will tell who they were.

Health wise tutankhamun has suffered from much speculation though the years, just like his father. It was confirmed that he suffered from Köhler disease II or Freiberg-Köhler syndrome, a condition in which bone tissue in the foot loses its blood supply and dies off. Walking must have been difficult and painful, this corresponds with the hundreds of canes found in his tomb, some of which he actually used by the signs of wear. In addition, he had mild scoliosis (curved spine) and an incomplete cleft palate. His skull was well proportioned, which denies marfans. So he was a weak and ill looking individual and unlikely to have lived a long life. Speculation as to his death courts even more speculation and i have watched many programmes claiming to have discovered the answer, even a cold case of real detectives from america had a go and said that it was Ayi that murdered him. But it looks like malaria, a broken leg and multiple problems did in king tut. How much of his problems were attributed because of his parents being brother and sister is not known.

Other mummies showed bone malformations including clubfeet, scoliosis (spine curving left-right) and kyphoscoliosis (spine curving left-right and front-back).

Yuya and Thuya

Tutankhamun, his great grandparents yuya and thuya, and the unknown male from TT320 were found to have been infected with malaria tropica, the most severe form of malaria. Mosquitoes and malaria were documented in texts throughout egypt's history, but this is the oldest genetic proof for malaria in precisely dated mummies. Malaria is not always lethal; yuya and thuya both seem to have lived into their fifties, adding further evidence to tutankhamun poor health throughout his life.

A cause of death was also given for others in the project; the "younger lady" and mother of tutankhamun, showed a lethal head injury. Although, as i hinted before with the armana picture glyph she could have died just after child birth, the head injury could be a result of blood loss causing fainting leading to the injury or perhaps she was murdered? After all she was of full royal blood and had just produced an heir and nefertiti was regarded as only a noble.

An arrow in the chest killed the unknown man (CCG61065) from TT320; Hatshepsut had a malignant tumour at her pelvis, and a dental abscess, the possible cause of her death was septicaemia, not a very glamorous death and no hint of foul play at the hands of thutmose III as I'd hoped or many had thought before.

I guess 'who do you think you are' would have quite a programme on their hands if they decided to make one. And if you take the family tree and put in all the bits we know about each member it makes one family dinner i'd want a seat at.

The Family Tree