XRF applications in archaeometry: analysis of Marajoara pubic covers and pigments from the sarcophagus cartonage of an Egyptian mummy

Abstract

AbstractThis work presents two applications of XRF in archaeometry. The first case involved a female mummy from the Roman period, which is considered one of the most important pieces of the National Museum (Rio de Janeiro), because of its unconventional embalming with legs and arms swathed separately. The objective was to characterize the elemental composition of the pigments found in the sarcophagus cartonage and to verify whether they were in accordance with those used by Egyptian craftsmen in the cited period. The elements identified were Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Hg, and Pb. In the second case, the composition of decorated pottery pubic covers (tangas) from the Marajoara culture was evaluated using EDXRF. Ceramics from the Marajó Island (at the mouth of Amazon River, Brazil) represent one of the most beautiful and sophisticated styles of the pre‐Columbian art. Decorated tangas were used by Marajoara girls probably as part of puberty rites. The analyzed samples were two tangas and four fragments from the National Museum's collection. One fragment (sample 22245) presented a different design pattern that seemed to indicate a different provenance. The elements identified were K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Pb. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the results. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.