Neutron-Enhanced Information on the Laboratory Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Leathers: Hydration and Preservation Status
Giovanni Romanelli,
Carla Andreani,
Enrico Ferraris,
Christian Greco,
Salima Ikram,
Silvia Licoccia,
Giuseppe Paladini,
Stewart F. Parker,
Enrico Preziosi,
Roberto Senesi,
Lucy Skinner,
André J. Veldmeijer,
Valentina Venuti,
Valentina Turina
Affiliations
Giovanni Romanelli
Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Carla Andreani
Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Enrico Ferraris
Museo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, Italy
Christian Greco
Museo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, Italy
Salima Ikram
Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Silvia Licoccia
Chemical Science and Technologies Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Paladini
Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Roberto Senesi
Physics Department and NAST Centre, Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Lucy Skinner
British Museum and the Institute of Creative Leather Technologies, University of Northampton, University Drive, Northampton NN1 5PH, UK
André J. Veldmeijer
Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
Valentina Venuti
Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences (MIFT), University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
Valentina Turina
Museo Egizio di Torino, Via Accademia delle Scienze 6, 10123 Turin, Italy
The Museo Egizio’s collection contains 200 precious and unique leather artifacts belonging to different historical periods. The materials used during the tanning and curing procedures affect the chemical and elemental composition of the surface of the samples as well as their preservation status, specifically through the hydration level within the bulk. Here we provide an experimental characterization of a series of samples from Museo Egizio that document an extensive denaturation phenomenon (gelatinization), by combining non-destructive techniques including surface probes (X-ray fluorescence, Raman scattering, and scanning electron microscopy enhanced by X-ray energy spectroscopy) and neutron-based bulk techniques (inelastic and deep-inelastic neutron scattering). Results show partial dehydration of the samples in the bulk, affecting the morphology of their surface, the presence of potassium alum, and iron oxides, as well as phosphates and hydroxides related to the tanning and curing procedures. Finally, we briefly discuss the need for a versatile and adaptable software package that is capable of combining quantitative analyses with complementary techniques including morphological, elemental, and chemical composition.