Chemical characterization of black and red inks inscribed on ancient Egyptian papyri: The Tebtunis temple library

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chemical characterization of black and red inks inscribed on ancient Egyptian papyri

T2 - The Tebtunis temple library

AU - Christiansen, Thomas

AU - Buti, David

AU - Dalby, Kim Nicole

AU - Lindelof, Poul Erik

AU - Ryholt, Kim

AU - Vila, Anna

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - This article presents the results of a study on the chemistry of the black and red inks used on papyri from the only institutional library to survive from ancient Egypt – the Tebtunis temple library. The aim of the study is to identify, through the chemistry of the inks, if certain papyrus fragments from the library are related. The papyri are examined using non-invasive analytical methods, including optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS), Raman spectroscopy and fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). Via these techniques, inks undocumented in the analytical record are detected. Moreover, the analytical results are compared to other assemblages of ancient manuscripts from the Hellenistic and Roman periods (c. 200 BCE–400 CE) and provide new information on the history of the production of ink in the ancient Mediterranean cultures.

AB - This article presents the results of a study on the chemistry of the black and red inks used on papyri from the only institutional library to survive from ancient Egypt – the Tebtunis temple library. The aim of the study is to identify, through the chemistry of the inks, if certain papyrus fragments from the library are related. The papyri are examined using non-invasive analytical methods, including optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS), Raman spectroscopy and fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). Via these techniques, inks undocumented in the analytical record are detected. Moreover, the analytical results are compared to other assemblages of ancient manuscripts from the Hellenistic and Roman periods (c. 200 BCE–400 CE) and provide new information on the history of the production of ink in the ancient Mediterranean cultures.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.05.042

DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.05.042

M3 - Journal article

SN - 2352-409X

VL - 14

SP - 208

EP - 219

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

ER -