A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies
Abstract Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Heritage Science |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00585-2 |
| _version_ | 1818647324488892416 |
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| author | Diego Tamburini Joanne Dyer Marie Vandenbeusch Matilde Borla Debora Angelici Maurizio Aceto Cinzia Oliva Federica Facchetti Sara Aicardi Patrizia Davit Monica Gulmini |
| author_facet | Diego Tamburini Joanne Dyer Marie Vandenbeusch Matilde Borla Debora Angelici Maurizio Aceto Cinzia Oliva Federica Facchetti Sara Aicardi Patrizia Davit Monica Gulmini |
| author_sort | Diego Tamburini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed in this study, including cats, ibises, crocodiles, calves and birds of prey from the collections of the British Museum (London, UK) and the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). The external textile wrappings encasing the mummified body of the animals were investigated with the main aim of identifying the colourants used. In fact, these are mostly patterned using undyed and coloured (mostly red, brown and black) linen strips. Broadband multispectral imaging (MSI) was initially carried out to obtain preliminary information at the macro-scale on the distribution and chemical nature of the colouring agents. Fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) was then used to survey several coloured areas of the textile wrappings. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and red ochre were identified non-invasively. Representative samples were then taken and observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to obtain information at the micro-scale on the distribution of the colouring agents on the fibres, as well as the presence of other materials, including those from environmental contamination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the elemental composition of particles and clear areas of the fibres, whereas high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) provided the identification of the organic dyes at a molecular level. The use of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, in combination with iron as a mordant, was found to be used in the very dark shades, which generally corresponded to the textiles with the worst state of preservation. Nevertheless, other aspects, such as fibre processing and bleaching, fungal attack and presence of coating materials appeared to play a role in the evaluation of the conservation state of these textiles. The characterisation of the dyes and the additional inorganic materials contributed to elucidating the production technology of the colours used for animal mummification, and provided insights into ancient dyeing methods. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:00:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-26110d9954214ee5822df3407e0c55f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T01:00:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
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| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-26110d9954214ee5822df3407e0c55f52022-12-21T22:09:27ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452021-09-019112610.1186/s40494-021-00585-2A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummiesDiego Tamburini0Joanne Dyer1Marie Vandenbeusch2Matilde Borla3Debora Angelici4Maurizio Aceto5Cinzia Oliva6Federica Facchetti7Sara Aicardi8Patrizia Davit9Monica Gulmini10Department of Scientific Research, The British MuseumDepartment of Scientific Research, The British MuseumDepartment of Egypt and Sudan, The British MuseumSoprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti E Paesaggio Per La Città Metropolitana Di TorinoTecnArt S.R.LDipartimento Di Scienze E Innovazione Tecnologica, Università Degli Studi del Piemonte OrientaleOliva RestauriFondazione Museo Delle Antichità Egizie Di TorinoFondazione Museo Delle Antichità Egizie Di TorinoDipartimento Di Chimica, Università Degli Studi Di TorinoDipartimento Di Chimica, Università Degli Studi Di TorinoAbstract Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed in this study, including cats, ibises, crocodiles, calves and birds of prey from the collections of the British Museum (London, UK) and the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). The external textile wrappings encasing the mummified body of the animals were investigated with the main aim of identifying the colourants used. In fact, these are mostly patterned using undyed and coloured (mostly red, brown and black) linen strips. Broadband multispectral imaging (MSI) was initially carried out to obtain preliminary information at the macro-scale on the distribution and chemical nature of the colouring agents. Fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) was then used to survey several coloured areas of the textile wrappings. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and red ochre were identified non-invasively. Representative samples were then taken and observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in order to obtain information at the micro-scale on the distribution of the colouring agents on the fibres, as well as the presence of other materials, including those from environmental contamination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the elemental composition of particles and clear areas of the fibres, whereas high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) provided the identification of the organic dyes at a molecular level. The use of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, in combination with iron as a mordant, was found to be used in the very dark shades, which generally corresponded to the textiles with the worst state of preservation. Nevertheless, other aspects, such as fibre processing and bleaching, fungal attack and presence of coating materials appeared to play a role in the evaluation of the conservation state of these textiles. The characterisation of the dyes and the additional inorganic materials contributed to elucidating the production technology of the colours used for animal mummification, and provided insights into ancient dyeing methods.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00585-2Animal mummiesArchaeological textilesOrganic dyesTanninsAncient EgyptMulti-analytical approach |
| spellingShingle | Diego Tamburini Joanne Dyer Marie Vandenbeusch Matilde Borla Debora Angelici Maurizio Aceto Cinzia Oliva Federica Facchetti Sara Aicardi Patrizia Davit Monica Gulmini A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies Heritage Science Animal mummies Archaeological textiles Organic dyes Tannins Ancient Egypt Multi-analytical approach |
| title | A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies |
| title_full | A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies |
| title_fullStr | A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies |
| title_full_unstemmed | A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies |
| title_short | A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies |
| title_sort | multi scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of egyptian votive animal mummies |
| topic | Animal mummies Archaeological textiles Organic dyes Tannins Ancient Egypt Multi-analytical approach |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00585-2 |
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