Mummified Knees from Turin Belong to Queen Nefertari

A team of archaeologists is on the verge of making the discovery of the century. After sampling the DNA of a pair of mummified knees from Turin’s Museum of Archaeology and comparing the results with historical evidence, the team discovered that they belong to none other than Queen Nefertari, Rameses’s favorite wife.

The mummified knees were discovered more than a century by a team of Italian archeologists. During their study of one of the tombs in the Valley of Queens, the team discovered that one of the tombs was recently raided by thieves. The only things the looters left behind after breaking into the royal sepulcher was a pair of mummified knees.

After examining the tomb, the team brought back the mummified knees and deposited them in the Turin museum. More than a century passed by, and everyone forgot about the knees.

However, thanks to modern medical investigation techniques, the scientists determined that the remains are more than 3,000 years-old and that they belong to Queen Nefertari, Pharaoh Rameses’s favorite spouse.

After carefully analyzing the fragments, the team has discovered that they belonged to a female who had a height of approximately 165 centimeters. In addition, the DNA sample revealed that the woman was suffering from arthritis and that she was between 50 and 60 years old when she was buried.

Their findings are consistent with the historical facts about Queen Nefertari – the age is right, and, in addition, her height matches one of the sandals found inside the burial chamber.

However, there is more evidence that points out to the fact that the knee fragments did indeed belong to Rameses’s spouse. Upon analyzing the balm used in the mummification process, the team discovered that the method is consistent with the practices of Rameses’s period.

Although there is the possibility of the knees belonging to some other person buried after Queen Nefertari, the scientists declared that it is highly unlikely.

All in all, it would seem that all evidence points out to the fact that the moldy knees belong to the famous Egyptian Queen. The only mystery that remains to be solved is what happened to the rest of the body and why were the knees left behind.

Scientists believe that the grave robber might have dismembered the body in an attempt to remove its jewelry.

Image source: Wikipedia