Multidisciplinary discovery of ancient restoration using a rare mud carapace on a mummified individual from late New Kingdom Egypt

Abstract

CT scans of an unnamed mummified adult from Egypt, now in the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney (NMR.27.3), reveal it to be fully sheathed in a mud shell or carapace, exposing a mortuary treatment not previously documented in the Egyptian archaeological record. The carapace was placed between layers of linen wrappings thus it was not externally visible. Radiocarbon dating of textile samples provide a range of c.1370–1113 cal BC (95.4% probability), with a median date of 1207 cal BC. When assessed against mummification techniques of the era, the individual is placed in the late 19th–20th Dynasty, at the later end of this date range. Multi-proxy analysis including μ-XRF and Raman spectroscopy of carapace fragments from the head area revealed it to consist of three layers, comprising a thin base layer of mud, coated with a white calcite-based pigment and a red-painted surface of mixed composition. Whether the whole surface of the carapace was painted red is unknown. The carapace was a form of ancient conservation applied subsequent to post-mortem damage to the body, intended to reconfigure the body and enable continued existence of the deceased in the afterlife. The carapace can also be interpreted as a form of elite emulation imitating resin shells found within the wrappings of royal bodies from this period.

Develop an optimal washing method for textile relics adsorbing composite organic/inorganic stains

“…At the same time, textile relics is extremely vulnerable, as a result of long-term exposure to decomposition of body, groundwater, soil, mineral microorganisms and other adverse environmental damage, suggesting the washing work of textile cultural relics had more challenge, should be especially cautious [2,14]. In addition, the washing of textile relics should follow the principle of "Washing the old as the old" and the principle of "Minimal intervention" and "Do not change/damage the appearance of textile relics" [15,16]. Consequently, it was speculated that the washing treatment of textile relics are obviously different from common textile and clothing products made of single ber or mixed materials such as cotton, linen, silk and wool.…”

Develop an environment‐friendly detergent for textile relics adsorbing soil/rust stains

“…Moreover, the washing work of textile relics is also extremely important to the reinforcement, restoration and other follow‐up protection work of textile relics (Perrier & Calle Morales, 2018; Seon et al, 2017). However, the present work mainly focused on the texture, pattern modeling, weaving technology, identification and restoration, reinforcement material's development, storage environment analysis and aging simulation test of textile relics, and so forth, there were few researches on the washing work of textile relics (Liu, Zhao, & Zhu, 2022; Sowada et al, 2021; Zhang et al, 2017). At present, there were a few scholars carrying out experimental research on the washing and storage of textile relics, and briefly expounded the main factors affecting washing effect of the washing and storage (Ahmed & Ziddan, 2011; Cakmakci et al, 2022; Dilillo et al, 2015).…”