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Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Non-invasive 3D-Visualization with Sub-micron Resolution Using Synchrotron-X-ray-tomography
Published on: May 27, 2008
Microbeam synchrotron imaging of hairs from ancient Egyptian mummies
L Bertrand1, J Doucet, P Dumas
1Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, UMR 171 du CNRS, 6 Rue des Pyramides, Paris, France. loic.bertrand@m4x.org
Abstract:
Developments in microfocus synchrotron techniques have led to new results regarding the long-term alteration of archaeological samples of biological origin. Here, ancient hair samples from two Egyptian mummies have been analyzed using a conjunction of structural and elemental synchrotron methods. In this favored context of conservation, structural analysis revealed a remarkable preservation of keratin supramolecular organization at any observed length scale. Bulk keratin structure has therefore not been modified significantly over 2000 years. However, infrared spectroscopy indicated a partial disorganization of keratins close to the hair surface through polypeptide bond breakage. Elemental mapping showed a strongly heterogeneous distribution which can be related to mummification and cosmetic treatments.
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