Tutankhamun’s Forensic Reconstructions
The 2005 facial reconstruction of Tutankhamun was created by three independent teams of forensic experts from France, Egypt, and the United States. The project was led by Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, with National Geographic providing support.
The French team worked blindly, meaning they did not know the identity of the subject, to ensure an unbiased result. The American team, led by forensic sculptor Michael Anderson, used forensic anthropology techniques to create a detailed likeness. And the Egyptian team, under Zahi Hawass, contributed insights based on their knowledge of Ancient Egyptian art and depictions.
All three reconstructions were remarkably similar, confirming the general features of the young pharaoh. The final bust, created from a composite of the studies, presented a lifelike image of King Tut as he may have appeared in life.
Photograph by Kenneth Garret for National Geographic, 2005.
The study also contributed to ongoing debates about his health, genetic conditions, and cause of death. This effort marked a major step in using modern technology to bring the ancient world to life.
The French team’s reconstruction was the one officially published and widely presented by National Geographic and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2005. Their model was created without prior knowledge of the subject’s identity to ensure an unbiased approach. Élisabeth Daynès, a renowned paleoartist and forensic sculptor known for her highly detailed and scientifically accurate reconstructions of ancient humans and historical figures, was the artist, who using CT scan data and forensic modelling, sculpted the final version of King Tut’s face which appeared on the cover of the magazine.
While the American and Egyptian teams also created reconstructions, the French version was selected for public release, as it was considered the most scientifically rigorous and neutral representation of Tutankhamun’s face. The final image revealed a delicate, youthful face with a slightly elongated skull and prominent overbite, aligning with the mummies of the Thutmosid line of which Tutankhamun descended.
More Recent Studies
More recent reconstructions and studies of Tutankhamun’s mummy have provided deeper insights into his appearance, health, and possible causes of death. Advances in CT scanning, DNA analysis, and forensic techniques have revealed several key findings.
DNA tests (2010 study by Zahi Hawass & team) revealed that Tutankhamun had malaria and a bone disorder (Köhler disease), which may have weakened him significantly. A CT scan in 2005 showed that he had a broken left thigh-bone, likely sustained shortly before death, possibly leading to a fatal infection, however, earlier theories that the Boy King died in a chariot accident were ruled out, as his club-foot and frail condition suggest he was unlikely to be an active warrior.
Unlike the 2005 National Geographic version, newer reconstructions focus more on his frail physique and deformities. A 2022 digital reconstruction by scientists used forensic anthropology and 3D modelling to depict a thin, sickly young man with a weak jaw, overbite, and slightly asymmetrical features.
Studies suggest that Tutankhamun suffered from congenital deformities, likely due to inbreeding (his parents are believed to have been siblings). As mentioned, it is suggested that Tutankhamun had a club-foot, making it difficult for him to walk—explaining why over 100 walking canes were found in his tomb. The mummy known as KV21a, a possible candidate for Ankhesenamun, Tutankhamun’s wife and sister, also shares a similar foot deformity.
CT scans (Computed Tomography) and the future of Egyptology
Egyptologists use CT scans (Computed Tomography) to study mummies because they provide a non-invasive, highly detailed, and three-dimensional view of the body without causing damage. Unlike X-rays, CT scans provide layered, 3D images of bones, soft tissues, burial materials, and they can reveal fractures, diseases, or embalming techniques that wouldn’t be visible otherwise. And what’s more is, scientists and forensic artists can use CT scan data to create facial reconstructions of mummies, offering a realistic image of what Ancient Egyptians may have looked like while living.
Since CT scanning is non-invasive, it ensures that fragile mummies remain intact for future research and digital records allow researchers to study mummies without needing repeated physical handling.
CT scans have revolutionized Egyptology by providing a safe and precise method to uncover secrets of ancient mummies, helping us understand their lives, health, and burial practices without causing harm to these priceless artefacts.
