Insight into the structure of black coatings of ancient Egyptian mummies by advanced electron magnetic resonance of vanadyl complexes

Abstract. Ancient Egyptian mummies from the Late Period to Greco–Roman were covered by a black coating consisting of complex and heterogeneous mixtures conifer resins, wax, fat oil with variable amounts bitumen. Natural bitumen always contains traces vanadyl porphyrin complexes that we used here as internal probes explore nanoscale environment V4+ ions in these coatings electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) hyperfine sub-level correlation spectroscopy (HYSCORE). Four types identified analysis 14N interactions. Three (referred VO-P1, VO-P2 VO-P3) are present natural Dead Sea, among which VO-P1 also mummies. The absence VO-P3 mummies, is replaced another complex, VO-P4, may be due its transformation during preparation matter for embalming. Analysis 1H interaction shows other substances intimately mixed coatings, aggregate sizes increasing content but not exceeding few nanometres.