title: Enlightening the past: analytical proof for the use of Pistacia exudates in ancient Egyptian embalming resins.
abstract: Mastic, the resinous exudate of the evergreen shrub Pistacia lentiscus, is frequently discussed as one of the ingredients used for embalming in ancient Egypt. We show the identification of mastic in ancient Egyptian embalming resins by an unambiguous assignment of the mastic triterpenoid fingerprint consisting of moronic acid, oleanonic acid, isomasticadienonic and masticadienonic acid through the consolidation of NMR and GC/MS analysis. Differences in the observed triterpenoid fingerprints between mummy specimens suggest that more than one plant species served as the triterpenoid resin source. Analysis of the triterpenoid acids of ancient embalming resin samples in the form of their methyl- and trimethylsilyl esters is compared. In addition we show a simple way to differentiate between residues of mastic from its use as incense during embalming or from direct mastic application in the embalming resin.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gradl
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Welte
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Metzger
authors.forename: Carsten M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pusch
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Albert
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004534:Egypt; D004615:Embalming / Q000266:history*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009106:Mummies / Q000266:history*; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D012116:Resins, Plant