Determining The Cause Of Death
There are many theories regarding the death of Tutankhamun. There are theories behind his death such as murder, either accidental or deliberately, but the most popular theory being that he died of natural causes. There are numerous theories about murder due to the large hole found in the back of the skull and skull fragments found within it, but these theories have been ruled out as scientist believed that this injury was naturally caused by the mummification process, and also that the fractures in the skull were caused after the kings death, and may be an inherited illness. Another theory suggest that he was killed in a chariot accident but that has also been ruled out due Tutankhamun having a partially clubbed foot making him unable to stand indicating that he wasn’t even able to ride a chariot and this theory was supported due to the fact of the many walking sticks found within his tomb. But then this had led scientists to believe that Tutankhamun had died due to complications of a broken leg. Dr Zahi Hawass had made some interesting findings. He and his team noted that there was a fracture on the left lower femur (thighbone) showed through CT and X-ray scans. This fracture is assumed to have happened shortly before his death, before embalming, and that it is a major trauma. There is also no evidence of fracture healing but may be covered by the embalming material. It is also thought that this fracture was caused during the extraction of the mummy by Carters team however Dr Zahi Hawass’ team distinguished that this fracture had rugged edges instead of the sharp edges that the other fractures had upon the body. Analysis of the fracture has indicated that malaria was present in the system. This has led many scientists to believe that inherited illnesses, complications of a broken leg, along with King Tut suffering from malaria, altogether was the cause of his death. Forensic analysis has indicated that King Tutankhamun died between of the age of 17-19 years.