Photo credit: Leeds Teaching Hospitals/Leeds Museums and Galleries
Scientists and archaeologists in the UK have managed to reconstruct the voice of a 3,000-year old Egyptian priest known as Nesyamun, thanks to a 3D-printed vocal tract. Despite the noise being a short vowel-like sound, the research states that this method could lead to new heritage and museum exhibitions, since it provides perspective on how ancient people spoke. Read more for a video and additional information.
Nesyamun lived as a priest, incense-bearer, and scribe at the time of pharaoh Ramses XI, who ruled from 1107–1075BC, and his mummified body was a highly appropriate choice for vocal study as his throat was well preserved, according to researchers. The team used a CT scan, data from Nesyamun’s vocal tract between the larynx and lips for the 3D printing project with the Stratasys Connex 260.
The synthesis of his vocal function allows us to make direct contact with ancient Egypt by listening to a sound from a vocal tract that has not been heard for over 3000 years, preserved through mummification and now restored through this new technique,” stated the study.
