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" The mummy of a woman found in the side chamber of the tomb of Amenhotep II and for years known as the 'Elder lady' has been identified as Queen Tiye. This was done by comparing the measurements obtained from a cephalogram, or lateral head radiogram, of her cranium with those of ten other female mummies known to be connected with the 18th dynasty royal family. It was found that the closest match to the Elder Lady was Thuya, known to be the mother of Tiye. The identification was CONFIRMED by taking control samples of hair , together with strands of hair taken from the head of the Elder Lady , and subjecting theim to ion etching and scaning electron microscope analysis. The same procedure was also used found in the tomb of King Tut and labeled as the hair of Queen Tiye. On the basis that the hair is as peculiar to the individual as his or her fingerprints a match was made. Queen Yiye died in her late forties, her hair still long, naturally curly and blonde."
Barbara Watterson, University of Liverpool
ausar Member # 1797
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What journal,magazine,or publication did the following information come from?
Horemheb Member # 3361
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Its from barbara Watterson's new book 'Armarna, Ancient Egypt's Age of Revolution.'
Dr Watterson is right on the mark and we need to put the elder lady dispute to rest. Yes its possible that its someone else but highly unlikely.
ausar Member # 1797
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Thanks for the reference. I am curious who conducted these tests. Does the book give in the bibliography or foot notes where these studies were conducted or published?
Usually, you will find such results in a journal or symposium.
rasol Member # 4592
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Have you read this book Horemheb?
Horemheb Member # 3361
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Ausar, why don't you e-mail Dr watterson at the University of Liverpool. Just go to their web site and it should give you her e-mail. Scholars are usually good about answering questions via e-mail. In her Bibliography she does list a source that might give you her data:
Harris, J.E. Mummy of the Elder Lady in the tomb of Amenhotep II: Egyptian Museum catalog number 61070, in Science, 200, 9 June, 1978, pp 1149-51. (this one is pretty old) She may not have listed the source of the tests in the Bib, that is why I suggest you e-mail her.
ausar Member # 1797
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I will do this. The article by James Harris is not old at all. James E. Harris and Kent Weeks are still standard for indentification and examination of mummies.
Horemheb Member # 3361
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Actually I just went to the University of liverpool and did not find her.....I'll check Google and see what I can find. Hope the bib article helps.
ausar Member # 1797
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Yes, the bibliography article did help. I should be able to find her email on the Chicago Oriental Insitute list.
Horemheb Member # 3361
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If this data holds up we are looking at a 90% chance the mummy is Queen Tiye. Its always good to pen down the identification of these people. I would like to see the early Thutmose mummies I & II resolved.
ausar Member # 1797
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The current issue of Kmt has some nice articles about the current Mummy project underway in Egypt. I haven't read the current issue of Kmt so I can't tell you much about the contents.
Roy_2k5 Member # 6397
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"Queen Yiye died in her late forties, her hair still long, naturally curly and blonde."
Ausar did explain why Mummies tend to have blonde hair. Even if she was West Asian looking, it is likely she wasn't a blonde. It is very rare to even find an American with naturally Blonde hair, leave out AE.
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