Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass is convinced that a mummy he is studying belongs to Queen Nefertiti from the 18th Dynasty.
Bust of Queen Nefertiti.
Hawass, who has dedicated decades to studying Egyptian history and excavating ancient tombs, and is a former Minister of Antiquities in Egypt, is preparing for an exhibition focused on women during the time of the pharaohs, Newsweek reported on September 14.
Queen Nefertiti, whose full name is Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, lived around 1370 – 1330 BC. Married to Pharaoh Akhenaten, she became queen during a prosperous period in Egypt and is recognized as the mother of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut. Some researchers, including Hawass, believe that after her husband’s death, Nefertiti ruled for three years. While the mummies of many pharaohs have been discovered, Nefertiti’s remains have yet to be identified.
“We have DNA from mummies of the 18th Dynasty, from Akhenaten to Amenhotep II or III, and there are two unidentified mummies designated as KV21a and b,” Hawass shared, stating that he will announce findings in October.
According to the Smithsonian Museum, ancient Egyptians mummified their dead through a meticulous and complex process lasting up to 70 days. First, they removed all internal organs except for the heart and used a special tool to extract the brain through the nasal cavity. The internal organs were placed in separate containers and buried with the mummy. After this step, the body was dehydrated using a type of salt called natron. The embalmer would apply this salt both inside and outside the body. Finally, they wrapped the mummy in linen and placed it in the tomb.
Hawass believes that the primary threat to preserving Egypt’s heritage is climate change. If the current situation continues, he fears that all tombs will completely disappear. He and his team have planned to protect the tombs and temples. Hawass emphasizes that the only way to preserve Egyptian history is to open the tombs annually.
