TUTENKHAMUN'S TOMB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 7

TUTENKHAMUN'S TOMB.

THE TEXTILE FABRICS, %

PARTIAL DISINTEGRATION.

SUGGESTED CAUSES..

(The Times World Copyright, by arrange, ment with the Earl of Carnarvon-), ~„. 4 By MR. A. LUCAS (Director. Chemical Department, Egyptian Government). ,; A notable feature of the contents of the tomb of Tutenkhamun was the marked discoloration of most of the textile fabrics, which varied in colour from light town to very dark brown, and was accompanied by partial disintegration. ' .The discoloration and disintegration were not uniformly distributed, even on the same article, one portion being much discolored and badlv decayed, while another portion of the same fabric, exposed to similar conditions, was much less discolored and in a muqh better state of preservation. Different' fabrics, too, in the same box had suffered unequally, although mad© of the same material. Even folded fabrics exhibited a similar irregularity, and patches in good condition and patches in bad condition occurred both on the outside and inside. The precise cause of this phenomenon has not been determined, but it is undoubtedly a process of oxidation, probably assisted by the dryness and warmth of the tomb atmosphere. It is a process of 6low spontaneous combustion, but one which would never become bo accelerated as to cause flame. I am informed by Mr. Howard Carter that in his experience he has found that where a tomb (favourably situated so far as dryness of position was concerned) had not been opened for robbery or other purpose, any fabrics present have been invariably "in a good state of preservation. In cases, however, in which the tomb had been entered (although afterwards reclosed) the fabrics were in'a much poorer state of preservation. This might be accounted for by assuming that the oxygen in the air originally present was ! not in sufficient amount to cause much j damage, but that when more air arid consequently more oxygen was admitted the oxidation effects increased. As examples in the present case of the phenomenon referred to, the fabrics on the two wooden statues of the King may be mentioned, as also the contents of one of the boxes. The former,* which were' probably merely protective coverings, were in tatters, and portions had fallen to the ground. The fabrics in the box comprised a large number of different articles, such as shirts, shawls, and loin cloths. Some of these were in very fair condition, others were in holes, while others again had utterly perished in places. Judging from the examination of prei vious material of a somewhat similar kind, it is probable that all the textile fabrics in the tomb of Tutenkhamun are composed of linen. . The darkening of organic material by age • and exposure is of universal ■ occurrence, hut is particularly marked in Egypt, and resins, employed in the process of mummification have frequently become so black and pitch-like that they have generally been described, : , as pitch. The present writer, however, pointed out. some years ago that there was no evidence of the occurrence of bitumen or mineral pitch in connection with mummification, although wood pitch has been found in a few cases. An excellent example of the oxidation referred to may be seen in the Cairo Museum, where a "mummy and its wrappings , have all the appearance of having been burned. ■'■'.'"■ The only treatment the textile fabrics are receiving at the ,present time is to enable them to bear transport to Cairo. They are unwrapped, measured, described, and, if necessary, treated with a. preservative solution, :,, and are t then carefully packed. But, all this is purely preliminary,, since detailed:, and final description and treatment are impossible in the desert. "