Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
By A.R Williams
Q:
Why King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny?
King
Tut’s body ahs been subjected to repeated scrutiny because of the mysteries
surrounding his life and death. As the last ruler of a powerful dynasty, his
early death at around 18 years old has intrigued historians, archaeologists,
and scientists. The possibility of foul play, genetic disorders, or other
causes of death have led to multiple examinations of his remains to uncover the
truth.
Q:
Why Howard Carter’s investigation was resented?
Howard
Carter’s investigation was resented because of the invasive methods he used
during the excavation of King Tut’s tomb. In the process of examining the body,
Carter damaged the mummy, particularly when he had to remove it from its sarcophagus.
His technique, though typical of the time, were seen as crude and damaging by
later generations of archaeologists.
Q:
Why did Carter have to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s
remains?
Carter
had to chisel away the solidified resins because the resins used during Tut’s
mummification had hardened over time, essentially gluing the mummy to the bottom
of the solid gold coffin. The intense heat inside the tomb had caused the resins
to solidify with the body, making it impossible to remove the mummy without
damaging it.
Q:
Why was Tut’s body buried along with gilded treasures?
Tut’s
body was buried along with gilded treasure because, in ancient Egyptian belief,
these items were necessary for the afterlife. The treasure included jewellery,
statues, and other valuable items that were meant to accompany the king on his
journey to the afterlife and provide him with comfort and protection.
Q:
Why did the boy king change his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun?
The
boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun to reflect a return
to the worship of the god Amun, following his father Akhenaten’s attempts to
establish a monotheistic religion centred on the sun god Aten. The name change symbolized
a political and religious shift back to traditional polytheistic practices.
Q:
List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.
Ray
Johnson described Akhenaten as “wacky” because of the radical changes he
implemented during his reign. Akhenaten abandoned the traditional Egyptian gods
in favour of a single deity, the Aten, the sun disc. He also moved the capital
to a new city, Akhetaten (modern-day Amarna), and introduced a more
naturalistic art style that depicted the royal family in unusual, almost alien,
forms. These actions were seen eccentric and destabilizing.
Q:
What were the results of the CT scan?
The
results of the CT scan of King Tut’s body revealed that he suffered from
multiple physical ailments, including a club foot and possibly a bone disorder.
The scan also indicated that Tut might have died from a combination of a leg
fracture and severe malaria. However, no conclusive evidence of foul play was
found, leaving the cause of his death somewhat of a mystery.
Q:
List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Advances
in technology that have improved forensic analysis include:
CT
scanning:
Allows for detailed imaging of internal structures without damaging the body.
DNA
Testing:
Enables the identification of genetic disorders, relationships, and potential
causes of death.
Radiocarbon
Dating:
Provides accurate dating of organic materials.
X-Ray
Flourescence (XRF): Helps analyse the composition of artifacts
and remains.
Q:
Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned-in
death, as in life....”
The
statement refers to the fact that King Tut, as a pharaoh, was subject to significant
attention during his life, and this attention has continued even after his
death. He was one of the first mummies to be scanned using modern technology,
which reflects the ongoing fascination with his life and the enduring mystery
of his death. Just as he ws an important figure in life, he remains so in death,
drawing the focus of modern science and archaeology.
Q:
What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
Languages
become extinct for several reasons:
Globalization: Dominant
languages spread at the expense of smaller, regional languages.
Cultural
Assimilation: Minority groups may adopt the dominant language to
integrate into society, leading to the loss of their native language.
Lack
of Transmission: When younger generations do not learn the language
of their ancestors, it can lead to its extinction.
Migration
and Urbanization: Movement to Urban areas often leads to
the abandonment of local languages in favour of more widely spoken ones.
Political
Policies:
Government policies that promote a single national language can lead to the suppression
of minority languages.
Q:
Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
It
is important to preserve languages because:
Cultural
Identity:
Languages are integral to cultural identity and heritage.
Diversity:
Linguistic diversity contributes to the richness of human culture.
Knowledge
preservation: Many languages contain unique knowledge about local
ecosystems, medicinal practices, and traditions.
Linguistic
Studies:
Languages provide valuable data for understanding human cognition, history, and
social structures.
Q:
What are the reasons for the extinction of languages.
To
prevent the extinction of languages and dialects, we can:
Promote
Bilingual Education: Encourage the teaching of both the
dominant and minority languages in school.
Support
Language Revitalization programs: Create programs that focus on teaching
and promoting endangered languages within communities.
Document
and Archive: Record and archive languages, including oral histories,
to preserve them for future generations.
Raise
Awareness:
Increase public awareness of the importance of linguistic diversity and the
need to preserve it.
Use
technology: Develop apps, websites, and social media platforms
that promote the use and learning of endangered languages.
Comments
Post a Comment