A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has revealed that ancient Egyptian mummies, some as old as 5,000 years, exude pleasant odors rather than the unpleasant notes of decay that researchers feared. The study, conducted on nine mummies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, employed a combination of chemical analysis and a panel of human sniffers to evaluate these aromas.
Researchers embarked on this study with the expectation of encountering scents indicative of decaying bodies. However, the results were unexpectedly pleasant. Matija Strlič, a lead researcher on the study, expressed their initial apprehensions:
"We were quite worried that we might find notes or hints of decaying bodies, which wasn’t the case." – Matija Strlič
The team utilized advanced technical instruments to measure and quantify air molecules emitted from sarcophagi. This non-invasive technique allowed them to ascertain the state of preservation without physically touching the mummies. Notably, the study revealed that evaporation, oxidation, and varying storage conditions over thousands of years have significantly altered the original scent profile of these ancient remains.
Moreover, the researchers aimed to identify whether the aromas detected originated from the archaeological items themselves, conservation products like pesticides, or deterioration due to mold, bacteria, or microorganisms. This crucial data offers insights into the compounds that could either preserve or degrade mummified remains.
Barbara Huber, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Germany, lauded the study's findings. Although not directly involved in the research, Huber noted:
"However, the research also underscores a key challenge: the smells detected today are not necessarily those from the time of mummification." – Barbara Huber
Huber had previously analyzed residues from a jar containing mummified organs to identify embalming ingredients and their origins. Her work revealed significant insights into ancient trade routes and social class distinctions. She worked with a perfumer to recreate an interpretation of the embalming scent for an exhibition titled "Scent of Eternity" at Denmark's Moesgaard Museum.
The study also highlighted environmental factors within museum settings that contribute to preservation. Strlič commented on the favorable conditions at the Egyptian Museum:
"We were specifically worried that there might be indications of microbial degradation, but that was not the case, which means that the environment in this museum is actually quite good in terms of preservation." – Matija Strlič
Additionally, the scents offer more than just olfactory intrigue; they provide historical context. Strlič elaborated on how these aromas can reveal socio-economic insights:
"It tells us potentially what social class a mummy was from and therefore reveals a lot of information about the mummified body that is relevant not just to conservators, but to curators and archeologists as well." – Matija Strlič
Cecilia Bembibre added a unique perspective on how museums traditionally engage with artifacts:
"Museums have been called white cubes, where you are prompted to read, to see, to approach everything from a distance with your eyes." – Cecilia Bembibre
