The Characterization of Vegetable Tannins and Colouring Agents in Ancient Egyptian Leather from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Elnaggar, Abdelrazek; Leona, Marco; Nevin, Austin; Heywood, Ann

doi:10.1111/arcm.12239

Cited by 44 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Aluminium was identified in the residue, which could be from the clays used to make the ceramic, if the vessel was produced elsewhere, but given the high levels measured, it is more likely to be present intentionally as part of the vessel contents. Aluminium salts called alum have been well known to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans since at least 3,000 BC [ 55 ]. The molecular analysis of the residue from sherd 737 contained a variety of different length fatty acids, most abundant were palmitic acid and stearic acid.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition of trace residues from the contents of 11th–12th century sphero-conical vessels from Jerusalem

et al. 2022

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The residues from the internal surface of four archaeological ceramic sherds, excavated from the Armenian Gardens, Jerusalem were analysed to characterise the contents of the original vessel. The sherds derive from four small, thick-walled, sphero-conical vessels recovered from a destruction layer, dating between the 11th and 12th century, Jerusalem. The residue has been analysed using light microscopy, biochemical characterisation, gas chromatography mass spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry. This analysis established the presence of various compounds including fatty acids and notable levels of mercury, sulphur, aluminium, potassium, magnesium, nitrates and phosphorous. The contents and probable functions of the four vessels were characterised from the residues on these sherds as different from each other, reflecting their different decoration, manufacture and ceramic typologies. One of these vessels contains residue that indicate the vessel held oils. The residue of the second vessel is consistent with either scented materials or medicinal contents, while a third probably contained medicinal material. The unique fourth sherd is from a stoneware sphero-conical vessel with very thick walls, no decoration and the residue supports the possibility it was used for the storage of chemicals or may have held the chemical ingredients for an explosive device, consistent with a medieval grenade. This residue analysis of Mamluk sphero-conical vessels provides insight into luxury items, medicines, technology and trade in medieval Jerusalem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composition of trace residues from the contents of 11th–12th century sphero-conical vessels from Jerusalem

et al. 2022

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“…However, the patterns of age-induced degradation and other factors such as the temperature, pH, glutamine deamidation, tertiary structures of proteins, and the geographical variations in the animal's skin sourcing must be considered [12,15]. Nevertheless, there is currently little research on leather studies concerning differences in archaeological animal species identification [16,17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoproteomic profiling for identification of animal skin species in ancient Egyptian archaeological leather using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

et al. 2022

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Ancient protein analysis provides clues to human life and diseases from ancient times. Paleoproteomics has the potential to give a better understanding of the modes of fabrication of ancient materials, their composition, and pathways of degradation, as well as the development of animal fibers through domestication and breeding. Thus, this study aimed at providing guidance for choosing proteomics workflows to analyze leather samples and their capacity to distinguish between unknown archeological species. Here, we performed shotgun proteomics of archeological animal skin for the first time. The raw output data were analyzed using three different software (Proteome Discoverer, Protein Pilot, and Peptide Shaker) with their impeded algorithms. The study found that the best species identification percentage was obtained using protein piolet with protein database. Particularly prevalent and relatively high collagen expression suggests its resistance to degradation, despite the samples’ exposure to environmental and chemical alterations. The success of this case study indicates that further analyses could assist in reworking historical baseline data for putative identification of unknown archeological samples.

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“…A statue displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo of King Pepi II (2235-2141 B.C) shows the king holding his leather back bag. It is the earliest sign in the history of humanity of leather products (Elnaggar et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Status of Leather Supply Chain in Egypt: an Exploratory Study for the INNOLEA Project

Haddad¹

2018

The International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems

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Egypt has a traditional wealth in manufacture and use of leather and leather products as demonstrated on the walls of the tombs of pharaonic civilization. Nowadays the status of leather supply chain in Egypt has deteriorated and only account for a minor percentage of the Egyptian GDP. The INNOLEA (Erasmus+) project aims at developing and enhancing the leather supply chain through the establishment of leather innovation centers in Egypt and Jordan. The project also aims to create a link between university research activities and the leather sector which shall foster innovation and lead to manufacturing of high quality products. In this regard four focus group discussions have been organized with a total of nineteen participants (4-5 in each group) from different leather sector stakeholders (industry and academia). The outcomes of this research emphasized a number of steps to be undertaken to ensure a bright future the Egyptian leather supply chain with its main phases, tanning and leather products manufacturing. The industry has to undergo major technological advancements, produced leather products have to comply with the international norms and standards, government should increase its intervention and monitoring of this industry and support it stakeholders and labor professional skills and training have to be giving more emphasis and get developed.

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The Characterization of Vegetable Tannins and Colouring Agents in Ancient Egyptian Leather from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cited by 44 publications

References 18 publications

Composition of trace residues from the contents of 11th–12th century sphero-conical vessels from Jerusalem

Composition of trace residues from the contents of 11th–12th century sphero-conical vessels from Jerusalem

Paleoproteomic profiling for identification of animal skin species in ancient Egyptian archaeological leather using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

The Status of Leather Supply Chain in Egypt: an Exploratory Study for the INNOLEA Project

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