Travis Simpkins: Secrets of the Dead: Ultimate Tut

Secrets of the Dead: Ultimate Tut

by Travis Simpkins

When Howard Carter discovered the treasure-filled tomb of King Tutankhamen in 1922, a new phase in Egyptomania sprang forth, fueled by the inherent mysteries surrounding the 18-year-old boy king. Produced for PBS in 2013, Secrets of the Dead: Ultimate Tut does an admirable and comprehensive job of unraveling some of King Tut's enigmatic wrappings, so to speak. Guided by Egyptologist Chris Naunton, the 110 minute documentary looks at some of the key mysteries and elements surrounding the young pharaoh's death, and how his gold-filled tomb survived unmolested for 3,000 years. Fabulous observations and well-versed insights are provided by Dr. Melinda Hartwig, Associate Professor at Georgia State University, who is an expert in the field of Ancient Egyptian history and archaeological aesthetic elements. From his undersized and under-decorated tomb, second hand mask artifacts meant for Nefertiti and hasty mummification it is immediately clear that King Tutankhamen's entombment was a rushed and unexpected affair. Naunton, Hartwig, Salima Ikram and a host of forensic scientists reexamine the previous suspicion that King Tut was murdered and arrive at a focused and more sensible theory. Dr. Hartwig points out artwork featuring King Tut engaged in battle, and X-rays confirm that a major chest injury was surely the cause of death. It is concluded that Tutankhamen was struck by a chariot during a melee, the blunt force of the chariot wheel breaking his leg, pelvis and ribs which punctured his heart (the organ is missing from the mummy, which is rare). Because he died at such a young age, Tut's intended tomb was not complete and he was hastily put in a smaller chamber meant for his advisor (and ultimately, his successor), Ay. Ay's own tomb, by contrast, is much too grand as was surely intended for Tutankhamen. Further tests determine that the charred status of Tut's mummy was likely caused by the spontaneous combustion of linseed oil used in the rushed burial. As for how the tomb survived in pristine shape for 3,000 years… layers of sediment surrounding the tomb were produced by a flash flood (which likely occurred shortly after Tutankhamen's death), effectively sealing the entrance until Howard Carter's team uncovered it in 1922. Also, Tut's successors made pointed efforts to obscure his name from historical record, so it is probable that looters were never looking for the small tomb. Ever-informative and never dull, this expert documentary should be included amongst the definitive oeuvre of works on King Tutankhamen.