Unlocking Ancient Egyptian Materials with Proteomics

Scientists have made significant progress in understanding the composition of ancient Egyptian paints, binders, and adhesives using non-destructive techniques. Researchers employed mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze the glues and adhesives in a range of Egyptian artifacts. The study revealed the presence of expected sources, such as animal collagens and egg proteins, as well as plant proteins from sesame and drumstick tree cereals. This breakthrough has implications for conservation efforts, allowing for a deeper understanding of the materials used in ancient Egyptian artifacts without damaging them. The analysis also sheds light on the pigments and painting techniques employed by the ancient Egyptians, including the use of hematite and realgar for red, goethite and orpiment for yellow, and Egyptian blue. The findings have the potential to inform the recreation of ancient materials, as demonstrated by a recent study at Washington State University, which successfully recreated Egyptian blue by mixing silicon dioxide, copper, calcium, and sodium carbonate and heating them at high temperatures.