Archaeology of the invisible: The scent of Kha and Merit

Dialogues between Past and Present? Modern Art, Contemporary Art Practice, and Ancient Egypt in the Museum

“…In a review of the 2014 volume The Companion to Ancient Egyptian Art, Riggs (2017) notes the problematic methodological emphasis throughout upon viewing works of art via stylistic or semiotic analysis, rather than considering the social dimensions of aesthetic experience: who, where, and under what circumstances viewing 'art' occurs. Keegan's work is a dynamic disruption in the museum context for the ocular-centric encounter with Egyptian material that museums have normalised, drawing attention to the experience of visual culture, many examples of which would have been animated in enclosed, sacred spaces infused with the aromas of unguents and offerings (Strong 2015;La Nasa et al 2022). In these ways, contemporary art can be a reminder that analytical, disembodied approaches to interpreting the past are limited unless room is given to understanding other intangible elements of human experience.…”

Focusing on Volatile Organic Compounds of Natural Resins by Selected-Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry

“…In museum environments, the use of noninvasive and nondestructive approaches based on mass spectrometry is mainly related to the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These studies are generally carried out by solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (SPME-GC/MS) and mainly aim at evaluating the role of volatile species in the deterioration of art objects. − Recently, guided by the interesting results in other fields (clinic, − environmental, , and food − analysis), we have successfully applied selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) to study archeological organic remains. , The technique has proven capable of performing real-time, online, and fast qualitative and quantitative analyses of VOCs at trace levels in air or sample headspaces also in museums …”

“…18,19 The technique has proven capable of performing real-time, online, and fast qualitative and quantitative analyses of VOCs at trace levels in air or sample headspaces also in museums. 20 SIFT-MS is a direct mass spectrometric technique that combines the features of a nondestructive technique together with the high sensitivity and specificity of mass spectrometry. In particular, it allows us to achieve good chemical selectivity for different classes of chemical species by applying controlled ultrasoft chemical ionization based on different reagent ions (H 3 O + , NO + , and O 2 + ) and by eliminating any possible discrimination of the analytes related to sample preparation or chromatography steps.…”

Fumi e profumi d’Oriente. Legami essenziali e aromatici tra l’Asia occidentale e l’Africa orientale

“…Per quanto riguarda l'impiego delle resine nel corso della XVIII dinastia si veda l'analisi recente condotta sui materiali della tomba di Kha e Merit a Deir el-Medina. La Nasa et al 2022: 1-14. Nel corso del primo millennio a.C., il commercio delle resine arboree fu controllato dai Sabei dell'Arabia meridionale, i cui re -già riconosciuti a capo di una potenza a carattere territoriale dai sovrani assiri dell'VIII e VII secolo a.C. 23 -furono capaci di organizzare lunghe carovane di cammelli e dromedari che raggiungevano il Medio Eufrate siriano e trasportavano ingenti quantità di incenso e mirra 24 .…”