Borate in mummification salts and bones from Pharaonic Egypt

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Archaeology
• Egyptology

Background:

• Pharaonic mummification successfully preserved bodies using sodium salts, with high sodium concentrations found in mummified bones.
• The study investigated boric acid as a potential inorganic conservation compound, focusing on the historical and biochemical significance of borate in ancient Egyptian mummification salts.

Observation:

• Borate was detected in salt samples from Tutankhamen's embalming material and Deir el-Bahari, as well as in bone fragments from the Old Kingdom Giza excavation.
• These ancient samples exhibited significantly higher borate concentrations compared to contemporary autopsy samples, which are below detection limits.

Findings:

• The presence of elevated borate in mummification salts and ancient bones suggests borate-containing salts were utilized in Pharaonic Egypt.
• A strong correlation was observed between borate concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity; higher borate levels led to increased enzyme activity.
• Borate was found to stabilize alkaline phosphatase, a zinc-magnesium-glycoprotein, forming detectable oligomeric species and increasing temperature-resistant enzyme activity.

Implications:

• Borate-containing salts may have played a role in the preservation processes during ancient Egyptian mummification.
• The stabilization of alkaline phosphatase by borate offers insights into the biochemical mechanisms behind the remarkable preservation of ancient remains.
• This research highlights the potential of borate compounds in understanding and potentially replicating ancient preservation techniques.