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Which elements are useful for understanding the composition of ancient papyrus inks?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2017

D. B. Gore ,
M. Choat ,
D. E. Jacob  and
G. Gloy
D. B. Gore*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
M. Choat
Affiliation:
Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
D. E. Jacob
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia
G. Gloy
Affiliation:
Bruker Nano Analytics, Vic 3072, Australia
*
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic mail: damian.gore@mq.edu.au
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Abstract

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was used in mapping and spot analysis modes, to help identify which elements are useful for understanding the composition of ancient papyrus inks, for 25 papyri from four age groups. We report seven elements (Al, Si, P, S, Ca, Ti, Fe) which provide sufficient contrast to be useful for mapping analysis, and 16 elements (P, S, Cl, K, Ca, V, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Nb, Ag, Ba, and Pb) which show significant differences through time. Only one element – Pb – showed sufficient contrast in the thin ink layer to be significantly different when measured on the ink and adjacent papyrus. There is greater complexity in the elemental compositions of the papyrus and ink than can be understood with a study this size and additional work is required to develop and explain the patterns observed here.

Keywords

XRF spectrometryimagingEgyptpapyrusancient ink
Type
Technical Articles
Information
Powder Diffraction , Volume 32 , Supplement S2 , December 2017 , pp. S90 - S94
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Copyright
Copyright © International Centre for Diffraction Data 2017 

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