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Researchers from the University of Bristol have revealed the chemical constituents of embalming fluids by analysing the air surrounding mummies, rather than removing physical samples. The team captured the gases emitted by the embalming materials of 19 mummies, ranging in date from the Predynastic to the Graeco-Roman periods, and used gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry to separate and identify the individual molecules. This volatile data was then compared with earlier analysis of solid balm components from bandages. A total of 81 distinct volatile compounds were isolated, including fats and oils, beeswax, plant resins, and bitumen. The combinations of ingredients differed over time, with later mummies having more complex mixtures. Variations in ingredients in different areas of the body suggest that embalmers used distinct recipes for particular parts of the anatomy.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Karl Harris
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