New tests show King Tut died of broken leg, malaria

LOS ANGELES - Archaeologists have woven intricate tales of intrigue and deceit about the death at age 19 of Egypt's fabled boy-king Tutankhamen, with theories that include poisoning by his minister Aye and a blow to the head by thugs hired by Aye, but new research indicates his cause of death was probably more mundane - complications from a broken leg and malaria.

Using a new approach (for mummies) they call molecular Egyptology, an international team of researchers found DNA traces of malaria parasites in the boy-king's brain, suggesting an infection was a major factor in his death.

Examination of Tut's body and his genes showed he also suffered from a cleft palate, a club foot that would have necessitated walking with canes and a degenerative bone condition called Kohler disease II.

He did not, however, suffer from Marfan syndrome or any other disease that would have feminized his appearance, as many researchers have speculated from observing busts from the period.

It now appears that the busts were simply a distinct artistic style chosen by the pharaohs of the 18th dynasty of Egypt's New Kingdom, who ruled from 1550 BC to 1295 BC.

By matching DNA samples from other mummies, the team reported yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, they were able to identify one previously known only as KV55 as the pharaoh Akhenaten, father of Tut; another as Tiye, Akhenaten's mother and Tut's grandmother; and a third as a sister of Akhenaten who was probably Tut's mother.

The results represent a sort of proof of concept showing that DNA analysis of mummies can provide valuable insights into their lives and set the stage for a much more thorough examination of mummies from other eras, said archaeologist Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and leader of the research team.

Tutankhamen became pharaoh in 1333 BC at age 10 and ruled for nine years.