PIXE Investigation of Ancient Linen Fabrics Dated from Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic Ages (2200-300 B.C.)

Abstract

External milli-beam particle induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (PIXE) has been used as non-destructive technique to investigate ancient linen fabrics from pre-dynastic and Ptolemaic ages belonging to the archaeological collections of the Egyptian Museum of Turin and to the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna, Italy. 9 linen fabric samples dated from Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic ages (2200-300 B.C.) were investigated, as well as 5 modern linen fabric samples, added for comparison. The primary goal of this work has been to advance the correct material description of the fabrics providing scientific data for further and more comprehensive comparative analyses. PIXE has provided quantitative analyses for the major (Si, Cl, K, Ca and Fe) and minor or trace elements as P, Ti and Mn, supplying information on the near-surface elemental composition. The achieved results contribute to comprehend the structural basis for the chemical properties of the considered materials, as well as to set up a classification according to the chemical composition, allowing in general a better understanding of the studied linen cloths.