Egyptian Museum Of Turin Research Articles

PIXE Investigation of Ancient Linen Fabrics Dated from Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic Ages (2200-300 B.C.)

External milli-beam particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) has been used as non-destructive technique to investigate ancient linen fabrics from pre-dynastic and Ptolemaic ages belonging to the archaeological collections of the Egyptian Museum of Turin and to the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna, Italy. 9 linen fabric samples dated from Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic ages (2200-300 B.C.) were investigated, as well as 5 modern linen fabric samples, added for comparison. The primary goal of this work has been to advance the correct material description of the fabrics providing scientific data for further and more comprehensive comparative analyses. PIXE has provided quantitative analyses for the major (Si, Cl, K, Ca and Fe) and minor or trace elements as P, Ti and Mn, supplying information on the near-surface elemental composition. The achieved results contribute to comprehend the structural basis for the chemical properties of the considered materials, as well as to set up a classification according to the chemical composition, allowing in general a better understanding of the studied linen cloths.

Prehistoric embalming secrets revealed

For thousands of years, ancient Egyptians carefully mummified the bodies of their dead in readiness for the afterlife. But the origins of the ritual are still shrouded in mystery. A team of chemists and Egyptologists has now carried out the first chemical analysis of embalming compounds from an intact prehistoric mummy, kept at the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The researchers dated it to 3700–3500 B.C., making it the oldest-known embalmed body. The results show that people prepared the Turin mummy centuries before the pharaohs unified the region in about 3100 B.C. to form ancient Egypt. The team’s analysis suggests that long before the founding of what was arguably the world’s first nation-state, the people who lived there shared common cultural practices and imported embalming ingredients from distant lands (J. Archaeol. Sci. 2018, DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2018.07.011). Mummification in ancient Egypt involved removing the corpse’s internal organs, desiccating the body with a mixture

Petamenophis (Padiamenemipet), an Egyptian Child Mummy Protected for Eternity: Revelation by Multidetector Computed Tomography.

The objective of our work was to report the most recent findings obtained with multidetector computed tomography of a child mummy from the Roman period (119-123 CE) housed at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy. Multidetector computed tomography and postprocessing were applied to understand the embalming techniques, the nature of a foreign object, and anthropometrical values. The information was compared with that from other mummies that were buried in the same tomb, but today housed in different museums. New information regarding the embalming technique was revealed. Multidetector computed tomography allowed the identification of a knife-like metallic object, probably an amulet for the child's protection in the afterlife. Multidetector computed tomography and image postprocessing confirm their valuable role in noninvasive studies in ancient mummies and provided evidence of a unique cultural practice in the late history of Ancient Egypt such as placing a knife possibly as an amulet.

Queen Nefertari, the Royal Spouse of Pharaoh Ramses II: A Multidisciplinary Investigation of the Mummified Remains Found in Her Tomb (QV66).

Queen Nefertari, the favourite Royal Consort of Pharaoh Ramses II (Ancient Egypt, New Kingdom, 19th Dynasty c. 1250 BC) is famous for her beautifully decorated tomb in the Valley of the Queens. Her burial was plundered in ancient times yet still many objects were found broken in the debris when the tomb was excavated. Amongst the found objects was a pair of mummified legs. They came to the Egyptian Museum in Turin and are henceforth regarded as the remains of this famous Queen, although they were never scientifically investigated. The following multidisciplinary investigation is the first ever performed on those remains. The results (radiocarbon dating, anthropology, paleopathology, genetics, chemistry and Egyptology) all strongly speak in favour of an identification of the remains as Nefertari’s, although different explanations—albeit less likely—are considered and discussed. The legs probably belong to a lady, a fully adult individual, of about 40 years of age. The materials used for embalming are consistent with Ramesside mummification traditions and indeed all objects within the tomb robustly support the burial as of Queen Nefertari.

The Conservation of Egyptian mummies in Italy

The conservation of mummies and human remains in Italian collections is a relatively new field. The earliest scientific studies of mummies date back to the 1960’s, but the first systematic use of CT (Computed Tomography) – scan on human mummies had to wait until the 21st century. The main interest of these studies was what was inside a mummy, with less attention paid to the textiles and related materials. Conservation of mummies has faced a series of problems: historical pillaging, past treatments, museum or storage environments, natural decay of organic material, and exhibition requirements. This paper illustrates the main cleaning and supporting techniques used in Italy by two case studies, both of which have parts of the bodies exposed. One is from the Egyptian Museum in Turin (Inv. Cat. 2218) and the second is kept in storage in the Vatican Museums (Inv. 25004). I faced the same problems with both, but resolved them in different ways.

Two Late Middle Kingdom Objects from the Collection of the Egyptian Museum in Turin

The aim of this article is the publication of two late Middle Kingdom objects, presently in the possession of the Egyptian Museum Turin (Turin Cat. 1582, and Turin Suppl. 18124), as well as their epigraphic and prosopographic analysis.

Multidetector CT Study of Gallbladder Stones in a Wrapped Egyptian Mummy

A whole-body examination was performed with multidetector computed tomography (CT) of a completely wrapped Egyptian mummy from the collection at the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy. The mummy dates from the Eighteenth Dynasty. Although embalmment of the deceased man should have included evisceration in accordance with his social rank, no canopic jars containing internal organs had been found at the discovery of his tomb, and at CT, all the organs were found to have desiccated inside the body. Numerous calcified stones that were incidentally identified in the gallbladder had attenuation characteristics indicative of a predominant bile pigment content. This case demonstrates the superior capabilities of multidetector CT for the noninvasive study of embalmed bodies. The intrinsic capacity of CT for depicting the density of materials allowed not only the identification of the gallbladder stones but also their characterization.

Riches of written documents in the Egyptian Museum of Turin

Riches of written documents in the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The Vitaliano Donati collection at the Turin Egyptian Museum

Preliminary announcement of the discovery of a manuscript found in Turin which lists the collection of ancient artefacts and scientific specimens sent by Vitaliano Donati from Alexandria to Turin on 20 February 1761. Donati's collection was one of the founding elements of the original Egyptian collection in the Regio Museo di Antichità, University of Turin. Today, the bulk of the collection is unidentified and only three statues attributed to Donati are on display at the Egyptian Museum in Turin. In addition, there is no published evidence that confirms the size of the collection or describes the objects.

The mummies deposit of the Egyptian Museum of Turin

This communication deals with a new conservation project for the human and animal mummies of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. The goal is the conservation of one hundred mummies that are housed in this a historical palace. The following aspects are considered:
 a. Objects difficult to preserve because of its physical body or the organic elements in the embalming materials.
 b. Sections with considerable numbers of objects.
 c. Possible presence of dangerous insects and mould.
 d. Research about new non-organic materials to protect the mummies from the external environnement.
 e. Security: laws requiring fire extinguishers and side effects of technology.
 f. Practical storage and functional solutions for research and studies in location.
 A preliminary report about this project shall be presented regarding the prevention of dangerous insects and mould, new non-organic materials to protect mummies from the external environment, and easy functional ways to move a mummy for studies or other reasons.Introduction

The three sisters:multidetector computed tomography and 3D reconstructions of three sister mummies from the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The “three sisters” is a particular group of mummies from the Drovetti collection of the Egyptian Museum in Turin. They were purchased in 1824 by King Carlo Felice of Savoy for the new Museum. The mummies come from the area of Tebe in Upper Egypt. Their names are Tapeni (CGT 13002–Cat. 2215), Tamiu (CGT 13003–Cat. 2218), and Renpetnefert (CGT 13007–Cat.2231). They were evaluated the same day with multidetector CT (GE Light Speed Qx/I). In all three cases whole body CT helical acquisition with thin slices (2.5 mm thickness, 1.25 mm reconstruction interval) followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstructions were performed. Stature, anthropometric measurements, sex, and approximate age, were estimated. Also embalming techniques, condition of the skeleton and of the soft tissues, and the presence of foreign objects were analyzed. The similarities and differences of embalming methods were also evaluated. To our knowledge, there are no other reports of CT studies on mummies belonging to the same family. We believe these results are of particular interest for archaeology and computed imaging technology.

Insect Remains from the Collections in the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The identification of insects preserved in pharaonic antiquities stored in the Egyptian Museum of Turin provides new information on aspects of biogeography, storage and trade. The khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, the biscuit beetle, Stegobium paniceum, and the house fly, Musca domestica, were recovered from food offerings from tombs in Egypt, and Dermestes frischii was found embedded in resin from a cartonnage mask. The study produced some of the earliest records of pests of stored products, and the khapra beetle may indicate early contacts with the Indian subcontinent. The problems of differentiating modern and ancient infestation are discussed.

Preservation and conservation of archaeological objects in leather and vegetal fibres

This paper examines several techniques used for the treatment of dry leather and brittle vegetal fibres on archaeological finds conserved in the Egyptian Museum of Turin. Three case histories — a group of sandals made from vegetal fibre, leather shoes and the sandals belonging to Queen Nefertari — are discussed. As these treatments were carried out over a period of five years they provide the opportunity to show how our approach has evolved in relation to certain technical aspects of the treatment of leather and vegetal fibre in archaeological artifacts. The case studies also touch on a number of ethical considerations relating to the softening, cleaning and support of archaeological finds. In the example of Queen Nefertari's sandals, the conservation proceeded alongside the design of a suitable support.

The World's Oldest Surviving Geological Map: The 1150 B.C. Turin Papyrus from Egypt

A papyrus map discovered around 1820 and now in the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy, illustrates the topography and geology of Wadi Hammamat in the mountains of the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. It accurately depicts the areal distribution of sedimentary and igneous/metamorphic rocks, which are shown as black and pink hills, respectively. The ancient map also shows the gold-working settlement at Bir Umm Fawakhir, the gold-bearing quartz veins on the adjacent mountain, the famous "bekhen-stone" quarry, the lithologically diverse wadi gravels, and various cultural features. Hieratic texts on the map comment on the occurrence of gold in the area and the quarrying of bekhen-stone (grayish-green chloritic sandstones and siltstones). This papyrus is the oldest surviving geological map in the world, and it predates by 29 centuries the next oldest known geological map. The map was drawn during the reign of Ramesses IV (1151-1145 B.C.) as an aid to or a record of one of this king's bekhen-stone quarrying expeditions to Wadi Hammamat.

Radiological observations on the mummies of the Egyptian Museum of Turin

Radiological observations on the mummies of the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The study of ancient Egyptian fingerprints: preliminary remarks

Preliminary results of the scientific project on ancient fingerprints, born from the cooperation between the Egyptian Museum in Turin and the Department of the Scientific Police are discussed. Following the study on ancient fingerprints on terracotta ushabtis found by Ernesto Schiaparelli in Deir el-Medina, this study deals with the fingerprints of Egyptian mummies.

Kha and Merit:multidetector computed tomography and 3D reconstructions of two mummies from the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The Mummies of the architect, Kha, (Suppl.8431) and his wife, Merit, (Suppl. 8471) belong to the XVIII Dynasty of ancient Egypt. They were discovered at Deir el- Medina, during the Italian Archaeological Mission directed by E. Schiaparelli (1903- 1906). Recently they underwent diagnostic investigation with helical CT at the Molinette hospital in Turin in order to verify the state of preservation of the bodies and to increase our knowledge of the funerary objects inside the bandages. A whole body helical CT acquisition with a multidetector CT unit was performed. Thin slices (2.5 mm thickness, 1.25 mm reconstruction interval), followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstructions were obtained. CT allowed a careful evaluation of body conditions, stature, age, embalming technique, pathological findings (some of which not revealed by previous conventional X-ray studies), and it allowed confirming and evaluating the presence of foreign bodiesjewels in particular. Once more CT, especially supported by new post-processing techniques, confirmed its fundamental role in the non-invasive study of mummies.

CT scan and 3D reconstructions of Pre-Dynastic child mummy 527 B* (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of Turin)

Mummy 527 B* belongs to the “Giovanni Marro” Egyptian Collection of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the University of Turin. This mummy of a oneyear- old pre-dynastic child was found in Gebelein in 1935 in a small necropolis discovered during excavations of the “Missione Archeologica Italiana” led by G. Farina, the new Director of the Egyptian Museum of Turin, with the participation of Prof. G. Marro as anthropologist. A whole body spiral CT scan with thin slices (1,00 mm thickness, 0,5 mm reconstruction interval) was followed by multiplanar and 3D reconstruction. The aim was to evaluate the child’s age at death and the presence of lethal pathologies. This study confirms the fundamental role of non-invasive techniques in the study of such rare pre-dynastic specimens.

Egyptian Art in the Egyptian Museum of Turin. By Ernesto Scamuzzi.

<i>Egyptian Art in the Egyptian Museum of Turin</i>. By Ernesto Scamuzzi.

Contributo Alla Conoscenza Bella Flora Faraonica Aggiunta Allo Studio Delle Piante Egiziane del Museo Egizio di Torino

Abstract The Egyptian Museum of Turin has among its collections from the tombs of the Pharaos' epoch several botanical specimens which apparently were intended for use by the dead. Part of these specimens were studied and classified by Bonnet, others by Mattirolo. This third contribution refers to specimens found by Prof. Schiaparelli in the XVIII Dynasty tombs and kept in the Museum. The following species are included: Acacia nilotica, Agropyron junceum and Linum humile, non yet recorded by Bonnet and Mattirolo. It is perhaps the first time that the Agropyron junceum P. B. has bee found in a Pharaos' tomb.