Abstract
Ancient mummies suffer from degradation as a result of the improper conditions which are changing both the chemical and physical properties of the materials. This study aims to ex-plain the chemical changes of an Egyptian mummy dating back to the late period. Multiple analytical techniques have been executed to characterize the different components of the mummy: optical microscopy, stereo microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dis-persive X-ray spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectrosco-py, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results revealed that the Natron salt exist-ed over the linen wraps and also the hydroxyapatite and collagen as chemical components of the bone with the presence of the mastic resin and beeswax as embalming materials. The in-correct packing method had a negative effect through which the surrounding humidity around the mummy’s body accelerated the reaction between the water vapor and the mummy's components. The water molecules of humidity interacted with the Natron salt to form a basic medium, and the humid conditions promoted the microbial and insect activity. The analytical investigation showed the fabric embrittlement in the wrapping and the diagenetic alterations in the bone.
Highlights
Egyptian civilization is one of the earliest in history, and the ancient Egyptians recorded their writings and their memories through mummification of their bodies
The mummy was buried in a sandy soil, and it is near an agricultural land that could play a role in the degradation process
The degradation of the mummy's body arose from a variety of interrelated factors, including the bad quality of the mummification technique, the geographical region of the burial environment, and the poor facilities of the storage area
Summary
Egyptian civilization is one of the earliest in history, and the ancient Egyptians recorded their writings and their memories through mummification of their bodies. 3- Dehydration of the body through burial of the body in heaps of Natron salts in order to avoid putrefaction or destruction of the tissues, and leaving the salted corpse for around 40 days This was the main step in the mummification process due to the extraction of water from the body by the osmosis process. The second method of mummification included the complete evisceration, the injection of cedar oil into the anus, and the treatment of the body with Natron salt. Once this was completed, the oil was drained off in which the intestine and the stomach came away, and the flesh was desiccated. The authors confirmed that the mummification process was lower in quality than in most of the late period mummies
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