Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status
The Museo Egizio’s collection contains 200 precious and unique leather artifacts belonging to different historical periods. The materials used during the tanning and curing procedures affect the chemical and elemental composition of the surface of the samples as well as their preservation status, sp...
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2022-09-01
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| author | Giovanni Romanelli Carla Andreani Enrico Ferraris Christian Greco Salima Ikram Silvia Licoccia Giuseppe Paladini Stewart F. Parker Enrico Preziosi Roberto Senesi Lucy Skinner André J. Veldmeijer Valentina Venuti Valentina Turina |
| author_facet | Giovanni Romanelli Carla Andreani Enrico Ferraris Christian Greco Salima Ikram Silvia Licoccia Giuseppe Paladini Stewart F. Parker Enrico Preziosi Roberto Senesi Lucy Skinner André J. Veldmeijer Valentina Venuti Valentina Turina |
| author_sort | Giovanni Romanelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Museo Egizio’s collection contains 200 precious and unique leather artifacts belonging to different historical periods. The materials used during the tanning and curing procedures affect the chemical and elemental composition of the surface of the samples as well as their preservation status, specifically through the hydration level within the bulk. Here we provide an experimental characterization of a series of samples from Museo Egizio that document an extensive denaturation phenomenon (gelatinization), by combining non-destructive techniques including surface probes (X-ray fluorescence, Raman scattering, and scanning electron microscopy enhanced by X-ray energy spectroscopy) and neutron-based bulk techniques (inelastic and deep-inelastic neutron scattering). Results show partial dehydration of the samples in the bulk, affecting the morphology of their surface, the presence of potassium alum, and iron oxides, as well as phosphates and hydroxides related to the tanning and curing procedures. Finally, we briefly discuss the need for a versatile and adaptable software package that is capable of combining quantitative analyses with complementary techniques including morphological, elemental, and chemical composition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:15:05Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-2489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:15:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a5069530d2464b6cadcdd77fc21dba6a2023-11-30T22:48:16ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892022-09-01131046710.3390/info13100467Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation StatusGiovanni Romanelli0Carla Andreani1Enrico Ferraris2Christian Greco3Salima Ikram4Silvia Licoccia5Giuseppe Paladini6Stewart F. Parker7Enrico Preziosi8Roberto Senesi9Lucy Skinner10André J. Veldmeijer11Valentina Venuti12Valentina Turina13Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhysics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyMuseo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, ItalyMuseo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, EgyptChemical Science and Technologies Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UKPhysics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyPhysics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, ItalyBritish Museum and the Institute of Creative Leather Technologies, University of Northampton, University Drive, Northampton NN1 5PH, UKDepartment of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, EgyptDepartment of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyMuseo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, ItalyThe Museo Egizio’s collection contains 200 precious and unique leather artifacts belonging to different historical periods. The materials used during the tanning and curing procedures affect the chemical and elemental composition of the surface of the samples as well as their preservation status, specifically through the hydration level within the bulk. Here we provide an experimental characterization of a series of samples from Museo Egizio that document an extensive denaturation phenomenon (gelatinization), by combining non-destructive techniques including surface probes (X-ray fluorescence, Raman scattering, and scanning electron microscopy enhanced by X-ray energy spectroscopy) and neutron-based bulk techniques (inelastic and deep-inelastic neutron scattering). Results show partial dehydration of the samples in the bulk, affecting the morphology of their surface, the presence of potassium alum, and iron oxides, as well as phosphates and hydroxides related to the tanning and curing procedures. Finally, we briefly discuss the need for a versatile and adaptable software package that is capable of combining quantitative analyses with complementary techniques including morphological, elemental, and chemical composition.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/13/10/467cultural heritageEgyptian leathervibrational spectroscopyDeep Inelastic Neutron ScatteringScanning Electron Microscopyelemental analysis |
| spellingShingle | Giovanni Romanelli Carla Andreani Enrico Ferraris Christian Greco Salima Ikram Silvia Licoccia Giuseppe Paladini Stewart F. Parker Enrico Preziosi Roberto Senesi Lucy Skinner André J. Veldmeijer Valentina Venuti Valentina Turina Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status Information cultural heritage Egyptian leather vibrational spectroscopy Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering Scanning Electron Microscopy elemental analysis |
| title | Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status |
| title_full | Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status |
| title_fullStr | Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status |
| title_short | Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status |
| title_sort | neutron enhanced information on the laboratory characterization of ancient egyptian leathers hydration and preservation status |
| topic | cultural heritage Egyptian leather vibrational spectroscopy Deep Inelastic Neutron Scattering Scanning Electron Microscopy elemental analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/13/10/467 |
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