The potential of X-ray computed tomography for xylological and dendrochronological analyses of Egyptian mummy labels

Article Article scientifique Article The potential of X-ray computed tomography for xylological and dendrochronological analyses of Egyptian mummy labels eng 2024-06-28 2024 author Blondel François 0000-0001-9110-0506 Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA) Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Laboratory Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249, Besançon, France. 949744 Forel Communs (FOREL) author Bélot Gisela Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire (BNU), Strasbourg, France. author Corona Christophe 0000-0002-7645-6157 Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA) Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Alpine Ecology (LECA), UMR 5553, Gières, France. 947557 author Huebner Sabine R Department of Ancient Civilizations, Institute of Ancient History, University of Basel, BaseI, Switzerland. author Stoffel Markus Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-CIA) Institute for Environmental Sciences University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Dendrolab.ch, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 131626 Forel Communs (FOREL) e0303695 10.1371/journal.pone.0303695 38941322 1932-6203 PMC11213358 X-ray computed tomography (XRCT) imaging allows non-destructive visualization of the structure of various materials. Applied to wooden objects, it allows determination of their morphologies or manufacturing techniques, but also measurement of growth ring widths. We have applied XRCT to a selection of 38 mummy labels. This funerary furniture, made up of endemic or imported tree species, has survived thanks to environmental conditions in very large quantities in regions in Middle and Upper Egypt and is featured now in museum collections across the globe. Mummy labels thus represent a unique and abundant data source to build floating or absolutely dated dendrochronological chronologies for this period. Here we discuss the possible contributions and limitations of XRCT for the analysis of these artifacts and show that the approach allows identification of discriminating markers for the identification of certain species on the transverse plane, but that the insufficient resolution of the tangential and radial planes normally prevents formal identification of species. By contrast, XRCT undeniably enhances the visibility of toolmarks (in terms of numbers and depth), and thereby allows highlighting marks that remain invisible to the naked eye; XRCT also provides key insights into cutting methods and the calibers used and yields new information on silvicultural practices and the knowhow of Egyptian craftsmen. Finally, the measurement of ring widths on XRCT imagery is also more accurate than what can be achieved by traditional dendrochronological measurements, especially in the case of cuts realized on a slab. The approach also confirms the limited potential of local broadleaved species for dendrochronological approaches due to unreadable or poorly visible tree rings and mostly short tree-ring sequences. Dewey 550 Dewey 333.7-333.9 Swiss National Science Foundation The Roman Egypt Laboratory: Climate Change, Societal Transformations, and the Transition to Late Antiquity 192176 CH Projects 41 Département F.-A. Forel des sciences de l'environnement et de l'eau 153 18 Institut des sciences de l'environnement 0DB 42 Département des sciences de la Terre 154 false 1394 C-CIA Climate Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10376111 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10384262 PloS one 19 6 ad600bae-4ae5-46ee-b235-511efb01f33e Article (Published version) Public journal.pone.0303695.pdf 4649345 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 b93988b396d72551fce36f9784eec7dbb9b606a4df1086cdcf0bb27f873e6d80 openAccess Faculté des sciences / Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement / Département F.-A. Forel des sciences de l'environnement et de l'eau Centres et instituts / Institut des sciences de l'environnement Faculté des sciences / Section des sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement / Département des sciences de la Terre

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The potential of X-ray computed tomography for xylological and dendrochronological analyses of Egyptian mummy labels	PloS one			2024	94	36

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Blondel, François