KING TUT'S STRANGE DEMISE

King Tutankhamun (Photo credits: mysafetysign.com)

King Tutankhamun died as the result of a chariot crash, and because of a botched embalming, his body spontaneously combusted in his sarcophagus. Using an electron microscope and other modern technologies, British researchers recently unraveled many of Tut’s mysteries after studying the mummified body of the young pharaoh, who died in 1323 B.C. at age 19. (click below to read more)
When he discovered the famous tomb in 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter noted that the mummified Tut’s flesh seemed burned, and researchers have confirmed that information by analyzing a small piece of the body. The tests determined that a fire occurred inside the coffin, probably sparked by a combination of oxygen, embalming oils, and linen. “The charring and possibility that a botched mummification led to the body spontaneously combusting shortly after burial was entirely unexpected,” Egyptologist Chris Naunton tells The Independent (U.K.). A “virtual autopsy” of the mummy also revealed that one side of Tut’s body sustained injuries that appeared consistent with a chariot accident. The researchers concluded the king was kneeling when the crash occurred, resulting in a smashed rib cage and pelvis and crushed internal organs.