Re: Natural Resins on band caver the mummy #2

[Mary Ballard <BallardM@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Harby Ezzeldeen!
I got a more complete answer from the book referenced below and a citation
to the article by E.A. Coughlin (1977) "Analysis of PUM II mummy fluid,"
Paleopathology Newsletter 17:7-8. Using mass spectroscopy, the author found
that the resin had polymerized in to an organic glass (confirmed by X-ray
diffraction as to being a 'glass')--as thought the resin was on its way to
becoming an amber. By XRD, the main component was the oil of a Juniperus
tree--a cone bearing evergreen. By extraction and filtration, and then thin
layer chromatography, a secondary component, an oil from the camphor tree
Cinnamonum camphora (Lauraceae) was identified. A third material, the resin
from the myrrh tree, Commiphora myrra (Burseraceae) was also detected. Of
course, this refers to a burial from about 200BC, quite late, in terms of
dynastic Egypt. Best wishes, Mary Ballard


On a Ptolemaic mummy, the resin was found to be an ester like mastic
(Pistacia lentiscus L., Anacardiaceae). The resin was characterized by infra
red spectroscopy. When fresh mastic is soluble in ethanol...We weren't
especially concerned about the identification of the resin at the time (CAL
Report #4488). Do you want me to send you the peaks? You could probably
confirm with GC. There may be more information in Mummies, disease & ancient
cultures, edited by Aidan Cockburn, Eve Cockburn, and Theodore A. Reyman.
Edition:  2nd ed. Publisher:  Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University
Press, 1998. Description:  xxii, 402 p. : ill., maps ; 26 cm. Best wishes,
Mary Ballard


>>> harbyezzeldeen@xxxxxxxxx 12/20/2005 6:04:38 PM >>>
  Hi everyone
      I have the pleaure e-mailing yours, and I have big question, I am
Ph.D student my work about ( Enzymes application for textiles ) , I have
samples from linen textiles that used as a band cover and enfold the mummy
from ancient egypt , i will make analysis for natural resins that are on
textiles enfold to choose suitable ezyme for cleaning .
   are anyone have idea or information about :-
  1) what kind of analysis suitable for this .
  2) what kind of resins that expected be on my samples.
     accept my deep thanks
           Harby Ezzeldeen
     M.A in textiles conservation.
     Conservation depatment - Cairo univeristy .
    Ph.D holder in biochemical department
    National techical Univeristy of athens.