Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Found in the Folds: A Rediscovery of Ancient Egyptian Pleated Textiles and the Analysis of Carbohydrate Coatings.


ABSTRACT: 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 Pinaceae resin, Pistacia 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.

SUBMITTER: Poulin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9268585 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC8106298 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6723569 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2678600 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6927955 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4208079 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7397189 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7132300 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC9908542 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC5031647 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6402096 | biostudies-literature