Caracterização de duas cartonagens e um fragmento de linho pertencentes a uma múmia do período Romano usando espectrometria de raios X, espectroscopias Raman e FTIR

Abstract

At this work were analyzed two samples of cartonnage, one sample of decorated linen that covered the chest of an Egyptian mummy from the Roman period (around 200 AD) and fragments with pigments. The mummy n. 158, object of this research, and popularly known as Kherima, was acquired on an auction by the Emperor of Brazil, Dom Pedro I, in 1827. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro by the fire that the institution suffered in September 2018, the samples analyzed in this work are the last evidence of the mummy that was once part of the Egyptian collection of that museum. Kherima was considered a rare mummy due to the form of mummification in which limbs, fingers and toes were individually wrapped. It is noteworthy that only seven other known mummies in the world were subjected to the same embalming procedure. The identification of pigments is not always easy. In many cases, an additional investigation is necessary. Therefore, the main objective for this scientific investigation is the identification of the pigments of the sample used in the decoration of the cartonnage and in the decorated linen. The samples were studied by micro X-Ray Fluorescence, X-Ray Diffraction, Raman spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray computed microtomography. The elements detected were: Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Sr and Hg. The techniques showed that the main pigments were: Realgar (As4S4)/Orpiment (As2S3), Carbon black (C), Vermilion (HgS), calcite (CaO3), gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) and anhydrite(CaSO4).