The constituents of the ink from a Qumran inkwell: new prospects for provenancing the ink on the Dead Sea Scrolls

Rasmussen, Kaare Lund; Lluveras‐Tenorio, Anna; Bonaduce, Ilaria; Colombini, Maria Perla; Birolo, Leila; Galano, Eugenio; Amoresano, Angela; Doudna, Greg; Bond, Andrew D.; Palleschi, Vincenzo; Lorenzetti, Guilia; Legnaioli, Stefano; Plicht, Johannes van der; Gunneweg, Jan

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.04.041

Cited by 21 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…ash or sand impregnated by black residues. In order to identify their chemical nature, we carried out a multi-element analysis [ 77 , 78 ] by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) [ 70 , 79 ]. We selected 103 samples ( S2 Table ) from the mineral residues either encrusting the bones and the intracranial space ranging in color from light red to dark red and black ( Fig 7 ), or impregnating both the ash bed layers in which the skeletons were embedded and the sand bottom.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

et al. 2018

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In AD 79 the town of Herculaneum was suddenly hit and overwhelmed by volcanic ash-avalanches that killed all its remaining residents, as also occurred in Pompeii and other settlements as far as 20 kilometers from Vesuvius. New investigations on the victims' skeletons unearthed from the ash deposit filling 12 waterfront chambers have now revealed widespread preservation of atypical red and black mineral residues encrusting the bones, which also impregnate the ash filling the intracranial cavity and the ash-bed encasing the skeletons. Here we show the unique detection of large amounts of iron and iron oxides from such residues, as revealed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and Raman microspectroscopy, thought to be the final products of heme iron upon thermal decomposition. The extraordinarily rare preservation of significant putative evidence of hemoprotein thermal degradation from the eruption victims strongly suggests the rapid vaporization of body fluids and soft tissues of people at death due to exposure to extreme heat.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

et al. 2018

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“…Aceto et al proposed in 2012 an analytical protocol for miniature paintings. Rasmussen et al examined the constituents of the ink from a Qumran inkwell to get insight into the ink on the Dead Sea Scrolls, and El Bakkali et al proposed a multitechnical noninvasive approach for the typology of inks, dyes and pigments in two 19th century ancient Moroccan manuscripts. The Nastova's group in Macedonia investigated medieval old‐Slavonic, Byzantine and post‐Byzantine manuscripts and Islamic illuminated manuscripts (16–18th century), where a rich palette was identified: vermilion, red lead, lazurite, realgar/pararealgar, orpiment, malachite and its degradation products, atacamite and brochantite.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

Bersani

Lottici

2016

J Raman Spectroscopy

146

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Minerals, as raw structural materials or pigments, play a fundamental role in archaeometry, for the understanding of nature, structure and status of an artefact or object of interest for cultural heritage. A detailed knowledge of the mineral phases is crucial to solve archaeological problems: Raman spectroscopy is a powerful investigation technique and has been applied extensively in the last 30 years on mineral identification and on pigment degradation. Here we report an updated review, covering the last decade, of the applications of Raman techniques to issues in which raw minerals, including mineral pigments, are involved. Particular attention is devoted to cases where the Raman analysis of minerals is deeper than a simple identification of the phases present in an archaeological or artistic object. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…The analytical procedure used in this study proved capable of detecting and identifying proteins in cultural heritage samples, in the presence of pigments and even when degraded [18,35]. The samples were subject to enzymatic digestion with trypsin, and the obtained mixtures of peptides were purified and concentrated using reverse-phase C18 pipette tips and analysed by LC-MS/MS [4].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

GC/MS and proteomics to unravel the painting history of the lost Giant Buddhas of Bāmiyān (Afghanistan)

et al. 2017

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A chemical investigation of the organic paint binders of the Giant Buddhas of Bāmiyān was performed using an analytical approach based on mass spectrometry, combining traditional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry protocols with advanced proteomics methodologies. The research was carried out on a selection of rescued fragments. The data revealed the use of egg proteins as the paint binders of the original layers, in accordance with the traditional use of this proteinaceous medium in antiquity, spanning from the Mediterranean basin to the Far East, and already in the Bronze Age. Egg tempera was thus known to artists of the region in the first centuries AD, probably also due to the position of the Bāmiyān valley, which was connected to the Silk Road. Milk was found in the first historical overpaintings. A new proteomics approach was used, which was able to identify the source of the milk proteins present in the restoration layers, despite their age and degradation. In particular cow’s and goat's milk were both found, in agreement with the documented presence of rich pastures in the Bāmiyān valley when the historical restorations were carried out. Investigating the materials of the Giant Buddhas not only enabled us to obtain isolated data on these invaluable works of art, which are now lost, but contributes to understanding the big “puzzle” of our past and the development of our culture, by implementing and supporting written sources, stylistic and anthropological studies with molecular data.

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The constituents of the ink from a Qumran inkwell: new prospects for provenancing the ink on the Dead Sea Scrolls

Cited by 21 publications

References 34 publications

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

A hypothesis of sudden body fluid vaporization in the 79 AD victims of Vesuvius

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

GC/MS and proteomics to unravel the painting history of the lost Giant Buddhas of Bāmiyān (Afghanistan)

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