Home Click Here to Resurrect the Dead: 3D Printing Brings Pharoah Back to Death

Click Here to Resurrect the Dead: 3D Printing Brings Pharoah Back to Death

How do you solve a problem like Tutankhamun? Well, if you need to ship his leathery hide around the world – something which would risk damage and sovereignty – you print him of course. In this case, you use 3D printing to create a life-like, or in this case death-like, copy in three dimensions.

Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities employed a CT scanner to map the ancient pharaoh’s body, all the way through, then used a MaterialiseMammoth Stereolithograph to produce an identical copy in the round.

Primarily used for prototyping and small-production runs, the machine uses a photopolymer resin to form the product in sections about six feet in length. The CT scans are imported and rendered using Materialise’s software. Lasers guide the shape, laying down thin sheets until they build up into the figure. A modeler finishes, adding texture and color.

The fake Tut is accurate (or inaccurate depending on your point of view) right down to the famous missing micro-wang.

With all of Howard Carter’s Tuthankhamun excavation material now available online, and 3D printing technology getting more common, I wonder if there will come a time when you can print out your own desktop Tut or other historical remains and artifacts in order to better understand them? That’d be cool.

Watch this video on the printing of a pharaoah. It’s a nice creepy cross between the Alien films and Dan Simmons’ Hyperion Cantos.

This Tut replica is currently on display in New York and next year will wing its way to Denver.

Tut photo by Get Directly Down | additional sources: Heritage Key

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.