Forensic experts have concluded that the most likely cause of death for Egyptian pharaoh King Tut is a chariot race gone wrong.
The researchers closely studied King Tut’s remains and believe that his shattered pelvis and ribs point to a chariot accident, according to Yahoo News.
King Tut, whose full name was Tutanhamun, was a young pharaoh who died at only 18 or 19 years old nearly 3000 years ago in Egypt. His body was found in 1922, and his cause of death has been a mystery ever since.
Scientists worked diligently to solve the mystery, using x-rays and CT scans for a “virtual autopsy.” After finding that one side of his body showed much more injury than the other, scientists further explored the possibility of a chariot crash, using computer simulations and modern day car crash investigators, according to Forbes.
Dr. Chris Naunton, who led the investigation, said, “I think what the project shows is that when it comes to ancient material there is always more to learn, and there probably will be in the future. But with this study we have taken a big step forward in terms of understanding what happened at the end of Tut’s life.”
Image: Wikimedia Commons
