The last coffin, made of solid gold, contained the mummified body of King Tut. Among the riches found in the tomb–golden shrines, jewelry, statues, a chariot, weapons, clothing–the perfectly preserved mummy was the most valuable, as it was the first one ever to be discovered.

the Valley of the Kings
Tutankhamun’s mummy remains on display within the tomb in the Valley of the Kings in the KV62 chamber, his layered coffins replaced with a climate-controlled glass box.

“The mass of oils and resins applied to Tutankhamun’s body might also allude to the black color associated with Osiris as lord of the land of Egypt, dark with the rich soil of the inundation, and the source of fertility and regeneration,” Prof Ikram wrote.

Tutankhamun helped restore traditional Egyptian religion and art, both of which had been set aside by his predecessor, Akhenaten. He issued a decree restoring the temples, images, personnel, and privileges of the old gods.

As the body was found cemented to its gold coffin, it was impossible to move it. Finally, to separate the mummy from its adornments, Carter decided to remove its head and break nearly every major joint.

Tutankhamun, also spelled Tutankhamen and Tutankhamon, original name Tutankhaten, byname King Tut, (flourished 14th century bce), king of ancient Egypt (reigned 1333–23 bce), known chiefly for his intact tomb, KV 62 (tomb 62), discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.

Tutankhamun’s tomb contained a total of 5,398 items, including the following: a solid gold coffin; Tutankhamun’s chest; Tutankhamun’s burial mask, which is one of the most well-known items discovered; a gilded bier; a pectoral indicating Tut’s prenomen, or name; archery bows; trumpets; a lotus chalice; food and wine; and the mummy of Tutankhamun.

While the discovery was exciting prompting the sponsor of the dig, British Lord Carnarvon and his daughter to arrive at the site some weeks later, the major discoveries were found by happy accident. Grave robbers had apparently twice invaded the inner tomb of King Tut. After their depredations ended, the thieves had clumsily resealed the passage leading the real treasures buried with the boy king with chips of limestone.

Research suggests King Tut died circa 1323 B.C.E. from a gangrene infection at age 19. The infection was possibly the result of a broken leg. Early investigations pointed to bone fragments in Tutankhamun ’s skull to propose the theory that he died from a blow to the head by political rivals.

Sickle cell disease (SCD), a genetic disorder in which red blood cells become dangerously misshapen, may have been the real cause of King Tut’s death, said the German researchers.