Multi-analytical strategy to assess the presence of fossil hydrocarbons in a mummification balm

What is it about?

This research work focuses on the detection of radiocarbon contamination, for instance bitumen, in a mummification balm prior to its radiocarbon dating. A new analytical methodology combining ATR-FT-IR (Attenuated Total Reflexion - Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography), is developed in order to allow a straightforward identification of contaminants directly from the excavation site and monitor the sampling prior to radiocarbon dating. The mummy of Padiimenipet, currently held at the Louvre Museum, was chosen to build the methodology as previous work relying on GC–MS (Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry) identified bitumen in this balm. Radiocarbon dating of multiple aliquots of the sample by AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) confirmed the presence of fossil compounds and their important heterogeneity.

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