☰
Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues
“Archaeology has changed substantially ... ”. Justify the statement by quoting from the text.
Archaeology is not what it used to be decades ago. It has moved on with the times. Actually, it has changed substantially within a few decades. Now the focus is not on Tut’s treasure. On the other hand, the focus is on the fascinating details of his life and the mysteries surrounding his death. Archaeology now employs more sophisticated tools like CT scanning machines. It employs medical technology. More than 40 years after Carter’s discovery, Tut’s mummy was X-rayed. It revealed a startling fact. His breast-bone and front ribs were missing.
Today diagnostic imaging can be done with computed tomography or CT scan. Hundreds of X-rays are put together in slices to create a three dimensional virtual body. CT scan can answer two of the biggest questions. It can tell how Tut died and how old he was at the time of death. A CT machine scanned Tut’s mummy from head to toe. It created 1700 digital X-ray images. Gradually Tut’s entire body was recorded. Astonishing images of Tut came up on the computer screen. The results were very satisfactory. Neck-bone was clearly visible. Other images revealed a hand. Several views of the rib cage and the skull were quite clear.
Tips: -
V. Imp.
Sponsor Area
Give reasons for the following:
Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remains.
Give reasons for the following:
Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Give reasons for the following:
The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Give reasons for the following:
List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “wacky”.
Give reasons for the following:
What were the results of the CT scan?
Give reasons for the following:
List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Give reasons for the following:
Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned — in death, as in life ...”
Discuss the following in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group taking opposite points of view.
1. Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.
2. Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.
3. Traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.
4. Knowledge about the past is useful to complete our knowledge of the world we live in.
Read the following piece of information from The Encyclopedia of Language by David Crystal.
Egyptian is now extinct: its history dates from before the third millennium B.C., preserved in many hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Around the second century A.D., it developed into a language known as Coptic. Coptic may still have been used as late as the early nineteenth century and is still used as a religious language by Monophysite Christians in Egypt.
1. What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
2. Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
3. In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages and dialects?
Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they have been used together.
(i) ghostly dust devils (ii) desert sky
(iii) stunning artefacts (iv) funerary treasures
(v) scientific detachment (vi) dark-bellied clouds
(vii) casket grey (viii) eternal brilliance
(ix) ritual resins (x) virtual body
Sponsor Area
Sponsor Area