Molecular analysis of black coatings and anointing fluids from ancient Egyptian coffins, mummy cases, and funerary objects.

ABSTRACT: Black organic coatings and ritual deposits on ancient Egyptian coffins and cartonnage cases are important and understudied sources of evidence about the rituals of funerary practice. Sometimes, the coatings were applied extensively over the surface of the coffin, resembling paint; in other cases, they were poured over the mummy case or wrapped body, presumably as part of a funerary ritual. For this study, multiple samples of black coatings and ritual liquids were taken from 20 Egyptian funerary items dating to a specific time period (c. 943 to 716 BC). Multiple sampling from each object enabled several comparisons to be made: the variability of the black coating within one application, the variability between two applications on one object, and the variability from object to object. All sa

SUBMITTER: Fulcher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8106298 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature