The identification of haematite as a red colorant on an Egyptian textile from the second millenium B.C.

Abstract

AbstractTwo red dyes from 21st dynasty Egypt and one from the 12th dynasty were analyzed. The first two were essentially madder, in one case mixed with small amounts of tannins. The third contained pure haematite (red ochre), thus representing one of the earliest known uses of this pigment for the dyeing of linen.