Open AccessHydrocarbon contamination of Egyptian embalming resin: C14 dating effects
Author(s) -
Arthus C. Aufderheide,
Arie Nissenbaum,
Larry Cartmell
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.218
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 2284-0230
pISSN - 1826-8838
DOI - 10.4081/jbr.2005.10084
Subject(s) - radiocarbon dating , embalming , archaeology , contamination , asphalt , period (music) , geology , art , geography , biology , ecology , aesthetics
Excessively old radiocarbon dates were found on resin specimens from a group of Egyptian mummies archaeologically dated to the Greco- Roman period (30 BC - AD 395). Organic analysis identified the presence of bitumen (asphalt) in the resin. The available evidence for the substances contained in ancient Egyptian resin is reviewed and the impact that «radiocarbon-dead» bitumen can have on14C dating procedures is discussed. Attempts to extract the bitumen component from the resin prior to analysis were not predictably successful.