Mystery Unlocked: Scientists confirm Queen Nefertari's presence on Mummified legs
Researchers from the University of York are finally giving up the secrets of dismembered legs uncovered in an Egyptian tomb.
Spouse of Pharaoh Ramses 11, Queen Nefertari's royal tomb was discovered in 1904 in the Egypt's Valley of the Queens. Researchers have finally uncovered that one of the remains found in the tomb, a pair of dismembered legs, belonged to the queen Nefertari, a royal wife of Pharaoh Ramesses the Great.
Italian archaeologists excavated the tomb of Queen Nefertari in 1904. But the Queen Nefertari's royal tomb was looted even before it's discovered. From the tomb, archaeologists found colorful wall paintings as well as a pair of shoes and leg bones, Mail Online reported.
Scientists conducted various technique to identify the mummified legs belong to Queen Nefertari, such as chemical analysis, radiocarbon dating, DNA analysis, genetic, paleopathology, and Egyptology. According to the scientists, this is first ever multidisciplinary investigation conducted on the mummified legs.
Taken together all the evidence suggested the leg belong to queen Nefertari, rather than her daughters who were buried in the tomb.
The study also revealed that the dismembered legs belonged to a middle-aged woman, who was around 5 feet 5 inches (165cm) tall and may have arthritis and the embalming materials used to mummify the legs with the tradition of Ramesside mummification.
The studies also further investigate and find, a woman above average height, most likely 165 cm tall, equal in the height of most Egyptian and Greek men of the time.
According to PLOS ONE," the height of the ancient sandals found in the tomb and the scenario of the mummified knees truly belong to Queen Nefertari"
Queen Nefertari was the favorite Royal Consort of Pharaoh Ramses 11, who lavished her with a beautifully ornate tomb in the valley of Queens after her death.
She played an important role in foreign affairs of Ramses the great and died sometime after the age of 40.
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