Musing on an age-old philosophical riddle, comedian Steve Martin once pondered "King Tut, how'd he get so funky," in a famed episode of Saturday Night Live.

Now we know. It was the wine. Fans of pinot blanc may be relieved to learn that an archaeology team has reported the first evidence of white wine in ancient Egypt. And it has turned up in the tomb of King Tutankhamen.

"In ancient Egypt, the royal family and the upper classes drank wine, which was also thought to be suitable among the necessities for a good afterlife," write the report authors, led by Maria Rosa Guasch-Jane of Spain's University of Barcelona, in the latest edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science. Wine jars and wine-making scenes appear in Egyptian tombs from 3150 to 332 B.C., across many dynasties from the time of the Pharaohs.

But until now, all the wine, or more accurately its dried remnants found inside clay amphora within tombs, has been red...

White wine turns up in King Tutankhamen's tomb, USA Today, USA, May 29, 2006.

You can kick back with a King Tuttini cocktail, learn to decipher hieroglyphs or indulge in an "Egyptian Golden Body Wrap" complete with exfoliating Dead Sea salts and a dusting of golden powder.

Yes, King Tut is back, and Chicago is fired up for the pharaoh. The travelling exhibit Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs opened Friday at The Field Museum, attracting long lines of ticket buyers.

Organizers believe the show could draw 1 million visitors before it closes here on Jan. 1, 2007. Businesses, restaurants and universities are lining up special promotions and events — hoping to benefit from the expected "Tutmania..."

'Tutmania' Takes Chicago By Storm, CBS News, USA, May 30, 2006.

cf. The return of the boy king, The Northwest Indiana Times, Indiana, USA, May 31, 2006.

The KV63 dig diary has been updated with several more entries. There are also some new pictures on the picture pages which has also been split into two pages.

Much has been accomplished recently with consolidation of the remaining coffins inside KV-63.

Coffin B revealed a large date palm fibre 'mat' resting on floor at the head end of the coffin. Conservators Amani Email and Ahmed Baghdady quickly 'treated' the mat. As you can see from the enclosed photos the mat is in remarkably good condition. The floor of the coffin, although exhibiting a midline split in the wood, proves to be surprisingly solid and strong. As of now, both side panels and the base of Coffin B have been removed, and the floor swept and sifted of debris.

Coffin C has already received preliminary consolidation work by the conservators and clearance should begin mid to late week...

KV63 Dig Diary Updated, Dr. Otto Schaden, Amenmesse Project, University of Memphis, Tennessee, May 23, 2006.