Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings
Charles T. Currelly, first director of the Royal Ontario Museum, participated in excavations of the tomb of King Nebhepetre, now known as Mentuhotep II, (Dynasty XI) in Deir el-Bahri, Egypt in 1906. He brought to Canada many objects from the excavations, and objects that he purchased while in Egypt;...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/13/4103 |
| _version_ | 1797434077169582080 |
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| author | Jennifer Poulin Chris Paulocik Margaret-Ashley Veall |
| author_facet | Jennifer Poulin Chris Paulocik Margaret-Ashley Veall |
| author_sort | Jennifer Poulin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Charles T. Currelly, first director of the Royal Ontario Museum, participated in excavations of the tomb of King Nebhepetre, now known as Mentuhotep II, (Dynasty XI) in Deir el-Bahri, Egypt in 1906. He brought to Canada many objects from the excavations, and objects that he purchased while in Egypt; these formed the initial collection of the museum. Among the objects were seven fragments of fine linen cloth with intricate pleat patterns. Recently, the cloths became the subject of a study to learn how they had retained their pleats for 4000 years. Samples were examined and analysed using polarised light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-electron dispersive X-ray spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three of the cloths were likely fragments of clothing re-purposed as bandages and were found to be saturated in mummification balms composed of <i>Pinaceae</i> resin, <i>Pistacia</i> resin, and an essential oil characterised by a high abundance of cedrol, possibly originating from a juniper species. All seven of the cloths were found to have traces of polysaccharides from two probable sources: an arabinogalactan gum such as gum arabic or a fruit gum, and a polyglucoside, possibly starch. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:26:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51e2b8bfb983416a9fd052cf4ef68e90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:26:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-51e2b8bfb983416a9fd052cf4ef68e902023-12-01T21:36:03ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-06-012713410310.3390/molecules27134103Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate CoatingsJennifer Poulin0Chris Paulocik1Margaret-Ashley Veall2Canadian Conservation Institute, 1030 Innes Rd., Ottawa, ON K1B 4S7, CanadaRoyal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, CanadaCanadian Conservation Institute, 1030 Innes Rd., Ottawa, ON K1B 4S7, CanadaCharles T. Currelly, first director of the Royal Ontario Museum, participated in excavations of the tomb of King Nebhepetre, now known as Mentuhotep II, (Dynasty XI) in Deir el-Bahri, Egypt in 1906. He brought to Canada many objects from the excavations, and objects that he purchased while in Egypt; these formed the initial collection of the museum. Among the objects were seven fragments of fine linen cloth with intricate pleat patterns. Recently, the cloths became the subject of a study to learn how they had retained their pleats for 4000 years. Samples were examined and analysed using polarised light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-electron dispersive X-ray spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Three of the cloths were likely fragments of clothing re-purposed as bandages and were found to be saturated in mummification balms composed of <i>Pinaceae</i> resin, <i>Pistacia</i> resin, and an essential oil characterised by a high abundance of cedrol, possibly originating from a juniper species. All seven of the cloths were found to have traces of polysaccharides from two probable sources: an arabinogalactan gum such as gum arabic or a fruit gum, and a polyglucoside, possibly starch.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/13/4103Ancient Egyptpleated linen textilespolysaccharidesstarchgum arabicfruit gum |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Poulin Chris Paulocik Margaret-Ashley Veall Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings Molecules Ancient Egypt pleated linen textiles polysaccharides starch gum arabic fruit gum |
| title | Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings |
| title_full | Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings |
| title_fullStr | Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings |
| title_full_unstemmed | Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings |
| title_short | Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings |
| title_sort | found in the folds a rediscovery of ancient egyptian pleated textiles and the analysis of carbohydrate coatings |
| topic | Ancient Egypt pleated linen textiles polysaccharides starch gum arabic fruit gum |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/13/4103 |
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