Revealing a Pharaoh: New DNA Analysis Sheds Light on Amenhotep I
For more than a century, the mummy of Pharaoh Amenhotep I has fascinated Egyptologists as one of the only royal mummies never physically unwrapped in modern times. Revered for its pristine preservation and exquisite linen wrappings, the mummy has long been treated as a time capsule - a glimpse into 18th Dynasty burial traditions left untouched out of respect. But a new study using advanced imaging and genomic techniques has revealed details that would previously have been impossible to know without disturbing the wrappings.
A team of Egyptian and international researchers has successfully extracted and sequenced fragments of the pharaoh’s ancient DNA using CT-guided micro-sampling - a method that allows genetic material to be collected through tiny, precisely targeted canals without opening the mummy. Their findings offer remarkable new insights into Amenhotep I’s life, ancestry and health. The analysis indicates that he possessed a blend of Upper Egyptian and Western Desert lineage, adding weight to the idea that the early 18th Dynasty drew from diverse elite families during the formative years of the New Kingdom.
Perhaps most surprising is the evidence surrounding his cause of death. While earlier speculations suggested possible disease or even violence, the new genetic and radiological data point towards a severe jaw infection, likely the result of an untreated abscess that became systemic. Combined with high-resolution CT imagery showing well-preserved bones and royal amulets placed carefully within the wrappings, the study paints a poignant picture of a young ruler who died not in battle or intrigue, but from a sudden medical crisis.
For travellers joining Immortal Egypt or Ancient Egypt’s Hidden Treasures, these discoveries bring a deeply human dimension to the monuments and museums encountered on tour. They remind us that behind each gilded mask and sandstone facade was a life lived - with its own challenges, vulnerabilities and personal stories. As non-invasive technology continues to advance, the mysteries of Egypt’s royal dead are being revealed in ways that respect ancient traditions while opening unprecedented windows into the past.
Added: 28th November 2025
