Decoding of Egyptian mummies by mass spectroscopy.

1. DECODING OF EGYPTIAN MUMMIES
BY MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MOHAMMED ALI

2. CONTENT
 Introduction.
 Analytical Approach for mummies analysis.
 Analysis of Egyptian mummification for Prehistoric Era.
 Thermal desorption (TD)/Pyrolysis(Py) GC-MS.
 Significance of using bitumen in Egyptian mummies.
 GC-MS Single ion monitoring SIM
 Accerelated Mass spectroscopy
 Significance of some embalming agents in preserving mummies.
 Conclusion

3. The ancient Egyptians believed that after death their
bodies would travel to another world.
They realised they needed to mummify the dead bodies
artificially to travel to another world.
They artificially dehydrated the body and remove the
internal organs to preserve their bodies for longer time.
They wrapped the body in linen bandages and placed it
in a coffin.
INTRODUCTION

4. People have long been fascinated by the ancient Egyptian ‘art’
of mummification.
Little is known about that practice, some organic
preservatives
or embalming resins were used.
Ancient Egyptians left No record for describing
embalming technology.
INTRODUCTION

5. ANALYTICAL APPROACH FOR MUMMIES ANALYSIS
1. Irreplaceable nature of the sample.
2. Techniques should accommodate with very small amount of the sample.
3. Large number of mummies should be analyzed to provide a comprehensive
picture of used embalming agents.
4. Looking for a specific biomarker is a must as organic materials are exposed for
degradative processes.

6. http://plumsite.com/egypt/egypt_time-line2.gif
EGYPTIAN HISTORY TIMELINE

7. ANALYSIS FOR MUMMIES FROM
PREDYNASTIC (PREHISTORIC) ERA
STUDY ONE

8. ANALYSIS FOR PREDYNASTIC EGYPTIAN MUMMIFICATION
 In this study, 16 mummies linen wrapping were examined from tombs at
Badari region, Upper Egypt.
 All these mummies are from Bolton Museum, UK.
 Technique used: TD/Py GC-MS.
Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

9. THERMAL DESORPTION (TD)/PYROLYSIS(PY) GC-MS
Volatile (Adsorbed) compounds Non-Volatile residue
Thermal desorption
gas chromatography Mass spectroscopy
(TD-GC-MS)
Pyrolysis gas chromatography Mass
spectroscopy
(Py-GC-MS)
Materić, Dušan, et al. Applications in plant sciences 3.12 (2015): 1500044.
Watanabe, Atsushi, et al. Analytical chemistry 88.10 (2016): 5462-5468.
Jones, Jana, et al. PLoS One9.8 (2014): e103608.

10. SEQUENTIAL TD/PY GC-MS
0.1-1 mg of sample is ground into powder
Loaded into quartz tube
Thermal desorption temp. 310 oC.
Pyrolysis temp. 610 oC
Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

11. β-Sitosterol
Cholesterol
Cholesta-3,5-dien-7-one
Unusual plant oil from Porifera (sponges)
marine invertebrate (Red Sea)
Dehydroabetic acid
derivatives
Coniferous resin
Aromatic acids from plant products from
Junucs or Halfa
Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

12. 5,6 Secosteroids from Mediterranean sponge
Hippospongia communis
Plant wax
Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

13. Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

14. ADVANTAGES OF TD/PY GC-MS FOR MUMMIES ANALYSIS
1. Very sensitive method requires 0.1 mg makes. it virtually non-
invasiveness techniques, so it could preserve the valuable mummies.
2. Allow analysis for both free “volatile” and bound “non-volatile”
materials.
3. Thermal desorption is time efficient as the extraction step is
instantaneous.
4. TD-GC-MS can be sequentially combined with Py-GC-MS, that
reduce contamination of sample by reduce sampling handle.
Jones, Jana, et al." PLoS One 9.8 (2014): e103608.

15. STUDY TWO
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PETROLEUM
BITUMEN IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
MUMMIES.
Clark, K. A., S. Ikram, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 374.2079 (2016): 20160229.

16. • Selection of specific m/z ratio.
• Lower the detection limit to 0.05 ng to 0.5 ng.
• Displaying (s/n) ratio (5:1)
• Bitumen is naturally occurring petroleum product after
losing its volatile hydrocarbons biodegradation and/or
evaporation, leaving a black color.
Clark, K. A., et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 374.2079 (2016): 20160229.
GC-MS SIM
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PETROLEUM BITUMEN IN ANCIENT
EGYPTIAN MUMMIES.

17. Hopan
e
https://www.drdarrinlew.us/organic-pollutants/fragmentation-pattern-and-environmental-
applications.html
Clark, K. A., et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 374.2079 (2016): 20160229.
Sterane
(ca 332–330 BC; BRI Ha7385) Potelmic Era
(ca 1064–927 BC; MTB G44) Third intermediate period
Khnumnakht (ca 1994–1781 BC; MAN 21471) Middle Kingdom

18. CHRONOLOGY OF BITUMEN USE ON DIFFERENT MUMMIES
https://science10technologicalapplicationsofradioactivity.wikispaces.com/B+Accelerator+Mass+Spectrom
eter
Accelerated Mass spectroscopy is used to find 14C/12C ratio
for carbon dating.

19. USING BITUMEN FROM THE PREDYNASTIC TO ROMAN PERIOD.
Clark, K. A., et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 374.2079 (2016): 20160229

20. SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME EMBALMING AGENTS
 Plant oil
 Unsaturated oils are polymerized spontaneously, This polymerization made highly cross-
linked network which stabilize fragile tissues which act as a physicochemical barrier impedes
microbial growth.
 Bitumen
 An external mechanical shield, when smeared on the exterior of mummy wrapping to prevent
ingress by insects, fungi, bacteria and moisture.
 a biocidal agent (perhaps due to its high Sulphur content), which prevented the flesh from
decaying,.
 Coniferous resin
 Inhibiting the bacterial growth.
 Bees wax
 Hydrophobic/sealant antibacterial activity. Nissenbaum, A., and S. Buckley. Archaeometry 55.3 (2013): 563-568.

21. CONCLUSION
 GC-MS (TD/Py and SIM) is non-invasive, sensitive and reliable techniques for analysis of ancient
specimens of mummies.
 AMS is an reliable tool for radiocarbon dating.
 Plant oil was the main component used by embalmers during prehistoric era.
 The use of bitumen was as a main component increased in the middle kingdom until late periods.
 Embalming agents was varied from time to time in ancient Egypt.

22. QUESTIONS???