FT-Raman spectroscopy was employed to investigate about molecular structure and degradation in the protein component of ancient skin samples obtained from five artificially Chinchorro mummies prepared in red and black styles. These mummies come from the sites of El Morro I, Maderas Enco and Valparaiso, in the North of Chile and date approximately to 5000 BP. Comparison was made with skin sample from an Egyptian mummy of Dynastic Period housed at the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of Turin (Italy). Spectra obtained from three Chinchorro mummies’samples show a similar structure, with relatively high amide I (1680-1640 cm-1) and amide III (1290-1220 cm-1) bands intensities that may be referred to the presence of proteins; moreover, signals in the region between 500 and 200 cm-1 suggest the presence of inorganic material in addition to the skin tissues. Amides bands are absent in the spectra obtained from Egyptian mummy: this is probably related to the loss of protein content or changes in the protein structure. Spectra of Egyptian mummy skin sample also show the presence of foreign substances: this may suggest that the body has been artificially and not naturally mummified. The results have shown that the better preservation of skin was observed in three Chinchorro samples, despite of their old age and different preparation. This result may suggest that differences in the style of embalming didn’t affect the state of preservation of the tissues. Moreover, an X-ray diffractometric analysis (XRD) was employed to investigate chemical components of skin samples from two Chinchorro red mummies. The results showed presence of organic components as dl-alanine and succinamide: this may suggest that a cristallization of proteic components of skin has occurred in ancient human tissue

Spectroscopic characterization of ancient human tissue from the Chinchorro mummies

DIANA, Eliano;BOANO, ROSA;
2014-01-01

Abstract

FT-Raman spectroscopy was employed to investigate about molecular structure and degradation in the protein component of ancient skin samples obtained from five artificially Chinchorro mummies prepared in red and black styles. These mummies come from the sites of El Morro I, Maderas Enco and Valparaiso, in the North of Chile and date approximately to 5000 BP. Comparison was made with skin sample from an Egyptian mummy of Dynastic Period housed at the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of Turin (Italy). Spectra obtained from three Chinchorro mummies’samples show a similar structure, with relatively high amide I (1680-1640 cm-1) and amide III (1290-1220 cm-1) bands intensities that may be referred to the presence of proteins; moreover, signals in the region between 500 and 200 cm-1 suggest the presence of inorganic material in addition to the skin tissues. Amides bands are absent in the spectra obtained from Egyptian mummy: this is probably related to the loss of protein content or changes in the protein structure. Spectra of Egyptian mummy skin sample also show the presence of foreign substances: this may suggest that the body has been artificially and not naturally mummified. The results have shown that the better preservation of skin was observed in three Chinchorro samples, despite of their old age and different preparation. This result may suggest that differences in the style of embalming didn’t affect the state of preservation of the tissues. Moreover, an X-ray diffractometric analysis (XRD) was employed to investigate chemical components of skin samples from two Chinchorro red mummies. The results showed presence of organic components as dl-alanine and succinamide: this may suggest that a cristallization of proteic components of skin has occurred in ancient human tissue
2014
Yearbook of Mummy Studies
Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
2
175
180
9783899371635
Eliano Diana; Elisa Maupas; Rosa Boano; Emma Rabino Massa; Bernardo Arriaza
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/148182
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