In a study that quite literally passes the smell test, researchers have discovered that ancient Egyptian mummies retain distinct aromas that offer valuable insights into their preservation methods and historical context. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, reveals that these millennia-old preserved remains emit a surprisingly pleasant bouquet of woody, spicy, and sweet fragrances.
A team of international scientists, working with the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, conducted the first systematic analysis of volatile compounds emanating from nine mummies, spanning nearly 2,000 years of Egyptian history. The study combined advanced chemical analysis with trained human “sniffers” to decode the complex aromatic signatures of these ancient remains.
“What truly surprised me was how individual the smells were, which indicated significant differences in the mummification processes and states of preservation,” said study co-author Matija Strlič.
The research focused on mummies from different historical periods, ranging from the New Kingdom (around 1500 BCE) to the Byzantine Period (300-400 CE). Using a sophisticated technique called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry, the team analyzed air samples collected from both stored and displayed mummies at the Egyptian Museum.
Their findings challenge the common perception that historical artifacts are odorless. In fact, the mummies’ distinct aromas provide valuable clues about ancient Egyptian mortuary practices, where careful body preparation was considered essential for the soul’s journey to the afterlife.
The study revealed that mummies currently on display typically emitted stronger scents than those in storage, likely due to the accumulation of volatile compounds in their sealed display cases. Notably, the researchers found that a mummy’s conservation state didn’t affect the intensity of its smell, though it did influence the overall composition of aromatic compounds.
According to co-author Celia Bembibre, “The smells are part of the value of mummified bodies, and this knowledge is not available to museum visitors, who only see them behind display cases.”
The research team identified four distinct sources for the mummies’ scents: original mummification materials, microbiological activity, natural oils used for pest control, and modern synthetic pesticides used in conservation efforts. Their analysis suggests that the quality and variety of embalming materials might correlate with the deceased’s social status, as more elaborate mummification practices were typically reserved for elite members of society.
These findings are particularly significant for museum conservation practices. The identification of specific compounds, including potentially harmful synthetic pesticides, can help museums develop better preservation strategies and safer handling protocols for these ancient artifacts.
The team is now working to recreate these historical scents for museum exhibitions, aiming to provide visitors with a more immersive understanding of ancient Egyptian mummification practices. This innovative approach to studying ancient remains demonstrates how modern scientific techniques can reveal new dimensions of historical artifacts, quite literally adding another sense to our understanding of the past.
The research was supported by funding from the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and the National Science Centre of Poland.
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