Expert Disputes That Mummy Is Nefertiti

The mummy a British Egyptologist says could be the ancient Egyptian Queen Nefertiti is more likely a man, antiquities chief Zahi Hawass said in Cairo.

Joann Fletcher, a mummification specialist from the University of York in England, said in June there was a “strong possibility” her team had unearthed Nefertiti from a Luxor tomb.

But Hawass said, “I’m sure that this mummy is not a female.” Among other things, he said, its hips were very narrow and Nefertiti gave birth six times. Salima Ikram, a professor of Egyptology, said X-rays would clarify whether the person had ever given birth.