Student Article
3D Printing Recreates a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy's Voice!
Vocal tract (noun): A part of the body that help us speak.
CT scanner (noun): A machine that takes detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
Ethics (noun): Knowing what is right and wrong, and trying to do the right thing.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear the voice of someone who lived thousands of years ago?
Bringing a 3,000-year-old voice back to life
Scientists used special technology to hear the voice of Nesyamun, an Egyptian priest who died 3,000 years ago. They used a 3D printer to make a model of his vocal tract, which is the part of the body that helps us speak.
Scanning and printing an ancient vocal tract
First, they took pictures of Nesyamun's throat and voice box using a CT scanner. These pictures showed that his throat was very well-preserved. Then they used a 3D printer to create a copy of his vocal tract. They connected this model to an artificial voice box to hear what Nesyamun's voice sounded like.
Why his voice matters
Nesyamun's voice was important because he was a priest who spoke and sang during rituals. Scientists were excited to hear his voice because it helps us understand more about ancient Egypt. Some people think it's amazing, while others worry about the ethics of bringing back voices from the past.
© Jason Goodyer / Our Media
Vocal tract (noun): A part of the body that help us speak.
CT scanner (noun): A machine that takes detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
Ethics (noun): Knowing what is right and wrong, and trying to do the right thing.