APEven after 5,000 years in the sarcophagus, the mummified bodies from ancient Egypt still smell, scientists have discovered.
Researchers who looked at nine mummies found that although there is a certain difference in the intensity of their odors, everything can be called “woody”, “sharp” and “sweet”.
It is said that the reproduction of the composition of smells chemically will allow others to experience the breath of mummies – and help say when bodies inside can rot.
“We want to share the experience we smelled by the mummified bodies, so we will reconstruct the smell that will be presented at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo,” said one of Cecilia Bembre, one of the researchers.
During the mummification process, the ancient Egyptians would surround the body with pleasant smells as an important part of the preparation of the spirit for joining.
As a result, the Pharaohs and the members of the nobility were decorated with oils, waxes and balms during mummification.
“In films and books, scary things happen to those who smell like mummified bodies,” said D -R -Bembree.
“We were surprised by their pleasantness.”
The authors of the academic study published in the magazine of the American Chemical Society on Thursday, were supposed to get the sarcophagus from the inside without interfere with the mummy inside.
Researchers, with UCL and Ljubljana University in Slovenia, did so by inserting a tiny tube so that they can measure the aroma without taking any physical examples.
Dr. Bembrabre explained that heritage scientists are always trying to find “non-residential” ways to discover new information.
APVisitors who smell aromas in museums will be able to experience ancient Egypt and the mummification process from a completely different point of view.
Eli Lux, Head of English Literature at the University of Cambridge, who wrote a PhD dissertation on smell policydescribed this as a “truly innovative” way of communicating history.
“To attract the nose, it creates a strong emotional and physical reaction,” she said the BBC.
“We know that the smells were important for social, religious and personal practices (in ancient Egypt),” said D -R -Lux.
Matija Strlich, another member of the training group, told the Associated Press that the flavors can even assume from which social class moms A.
“We believe that this approach potentially is of great interest to other types of museum collections,” he said.
In addition, to provide the museum with a new touch understanding of mummies, the opening is also a potential breakthrough for environmental guards.
Researchers used a technique called gas chromatography to separate different odors inside the sarcophagus, which was combined to make its smell.
They found odors associated with the rupture of animal fats used during the balm, which may indicate that the body begins to decompose.
From these conclusions it will be possible to “practically intervene” in preserving mummies, determining how best to store and wrap the bodies, the research work said.
“This is useful for conservatives who care about this collection (as), we can provide it with future generations,” said D -R -Bembree.
