Student Article
3D Printing Recreates a 3,000-Year-Old Egyptian Mummy's Voice!
Vocal tract (noun): The parts of the body that help us speak.
CT scanner (noun): A machine that takes detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
Larynx (noun): The part of the throat that contains the voice box.
Ethical (adjective): Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.
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 have utilized advanced technology to recreate the voice of Nesyamun, an Egyptian priest who died 3,000 years ago. By using a 3D printer, they created a model of his vocal tract, allowing them to hear his voice for the first time in millennia.
Scanning and printing an ancient vocal tract
The team, including Professor David Howard from Royal Holloway, University of London, and researchers from the University of York, produced detailed images of Nesyamun's throat and larynx using a CT scanner. They found that the overriding structure and soft tissue in his throat was incredibly well-preserved. They then hooked the printed vocal tract up to an artificial voice box that is commonly used in modern speech synthesis systems to hear what Nesyamun would have sounded like.
Why his voice matters
Nesyamun's voice was significant because he was a priest who performed rituals involving spoken and sung elements. The researchers were thrilled to hear his voice as it provides valuable insights into ancient Egyptian culture. While some people find this project fascinating, others have raised ethical concerns about recreating voices from the past.
This research opens new possibilities for understanding ancient civilizations and their practices. Scientists hope to use this technology to study more mummies and uncover further details about life in ancient Egypt.
© Jason Goodyer / Our Media
Vocal tract (noun): The parts of the body that help us speak.
CT scanner (noun): A machine that takes detailed pictures of the inside of the body.
Larynx (noun): The part of the throat that contains the voice box.
Ethical (adjective): Relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these.