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1.
Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom ; 35(8): e9058, 2021 Apr 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33496359

ABSTRACT

RATIONALE: Mummification is one of the defining customs of ancient Egypt. The nuances of the embalming procedure and the composition of the embalming mixtures have attracted the attention of scientists and laypeople for a long time. Modern analytical tools make mummy studies more efficient. METHODS: Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GCxGC/HRMS) with complementary ionization methods (electron ionization, positive chemical ionization, and electron capture negative ionization [ECNI]) with a Pegasus GC-HRT+4D instrument was used to identify embalming components in the mummy from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts acquired in 1913 in London at the de Rustafjaell sale. The mummy dates back to the late Predynastic period (direct accelerator mass spectrometry-dating 3356-3098 bc), being one of the oldest in the world. RESULTS: The results showed the complexity of the embalming mixtures that were already in use 5000 years ago. Several hundred organic compounds were identified in the mummy samples. Various types of hydrocarbons (triterpanes, steranes, isoprenoid, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) prove the presence of petroleum products. Iodinated compounds detected using ECNI define oils of marine origin, whereas esters of palmitic acid indicate the use of beeswax. The nature of the discovered components of conifer tar proves that the preliminary processing of conifer resins involved heating. GCxGC/HRMS also allowed a number of modern contaminants (phthalates, organophosphates, and even DDT) to be identified. CONCLUSIONS: Application of a powerful GCxGC/HRMS technique with complementary ionization methods allowed significant widening of the range of organic compounds used for mummification that could be identified. The complexity of the embalming mixtures supports the hypothesis of the high social status of the child made on the basis of the preliminary study of the mummy.


Subject(s)
Embalming , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods , Mummies , Egypt , Fatty Acids/analysis , Fatty Acids/chemistry , Hydrocarbons/analysis , Hydrocarbons/chemistry , Palmitic Acid/analysis , Petroleum , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis , Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/chemistry , Sterols/analysis , Sterols/chemistry , Waxes/analysis , Waxes/chemistry
2.
J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci ; 24(4): 425-31, 2005 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16079592

ABSTRACT

Sunghir is one of the most important Upper Palaeolithic sites in the world because of its most Northern location, the extraordinary richness of the artifacts, and the state of human bone preservation. The skeletal finds give evidence for the study both of adult and subadult body builds in the group. For the reconstruction of patterns of postcranial morphology, total measurements of bones and X-ray observations have been used. We have determined the basic structural traits typical for Sunghirians: small corticalisation of adult postcranial skeletons; large volume of the bone marrow cavity relative to the general size; quick tempo of attainment in early ontogenesis of large adult size combined with late synostoses ensuring prolonged linear growth; macroskelia combined with extreme andromorphy in the shoulder belt structure; capacious chest. The above traits can be interpreted in terms of adaptation to such formative factors as low temperature stress, deficit of atmospheric oxygen, high protein nutrition, and mechanical loads.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Biological/physiology , Bone and Bones/diagnostic imaging , Fossils , Human Development/physiology , Adult , Anthropometry , Child , Cluster Analysis , Humans , Male , Principal Component Analysis , Radiography , Russia
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