A non-destructive method for analyzing Ancient Egyptian embalming materials

(American Chemical Society) Ancient Egyptian mummies have many tales to tell, but unlocking their secrets without destroying delicate remains is challenging. Now, researchers reporting in ACS'Analytical Chemistry have found a non-destructive way to analyze bitumen -- the compound that gives mummies their dark color -- in Ancient Egyptian embalming materials. The method provides clues to the bitumen's geographic origin and, in one experiment, revealed that a mummy in a French museum could have been partially restored, likely by collectors.
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news