Proteomics reveals materials used by ancient Egyptian craftsmen
Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics, researchers identified the animal-derived glues and collagens ancient Egyptians used in artworks and funerary objects spanning nearly 1,800 years.
A team of researchers has applied mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze protein residues in ancient Egyptian artifacts, uncovering detailed information about the materials used in their production. The technique can characterize every protein present in a sample regardless of how complex the mixture is, and it requires less material than other approaches, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
What was studied
The scientists took tiny samples from several Egyptian artifacts held in collections across Sweden, the UK, and Denmark, dating from 1425 BCE to 400 CE. The objects included painted wooden coffins, fragments of wall paintings from a tomb, painted plaster from a mummy bust, and painted limestone architectural elements. To rule out laboratory contamination, the team also tested blank negative control samples and assessed chemical damage present in all detected proteins.
What was found
The analysis confirmed that ancient Egyptians commonly used cow-derived glue along with collagens from sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, and antelope. These materials were likely produced by boiling animal skin and connective tissue. Such animal-based substances turned up not only in adhesives but also in paint and ground layers, suggesting that material choice was largely driven by availability rather than specific artistic intent.
The researchers reported finding no clear link between the animal species or body part used and factors such as the type of object, the application method, the color, the time period, the geographic origin, or whether the item was used in a funerary or palatial context.
