Egypt Daily News – When artifacts are displayed in museums, one of the most notable things missing is the smell and texture of the exhibited piece.
According to the scientific website Scientists, this is referred to as “sensory heritage,” which relates to how we interact with heritage objects using senses other than sight.
Sensory heritage expert Cecilia Bembibre says, “I am developing methods to identify and preserve culturally significant smells,” adding, “The University of Ljubljana, in collaboration with the University of Krakow and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, asked me to assist in studying mummified bodies.”
The strict guidelines for studying these bodies require researchers to use non-destructive techniques. One approach is to see what can be learned through smell.
Bembibre explains, “We studied nine mummified bodies at the Egyptian Museum, four of which were on display and five in storage. These artifacts span different time periods, with the oldest dating back 3,500 years. They were also preserved using different methods and stored in various locations to provide an accurate representation of all mummified bodies in different collections worldwide.”
The Research
The study began with chemical analysis to ensure the mummies were safe to smell, as they had been treated in previous decades with industrial pesticides to preserve them. Many of the mummies contained high concentrations of these pesticides, which are potentially carcinogenic, so they were excluded from the study.
Bembibre describes the process: “We slightly opened their coffins to insert small tubes and extract air samples. A specific amount of this air was placed in special bags, which we took to a room far from the exhibition areas so that I and others could experience it directly. This air was subjected to various chemical analyses to identify the compounds present, allowing us to experience and describe each smell individually.”
Bembibre notes that it is a misconception to think these smells would be unpleasant. The association of mummies with foul odors is incorrect, and surprisingly, the smells were very pleasant. Descriptions from the smelling team included “woody,” “floral,” “sweet,” “spicy,” and “antique.”
The scientist commented, “We were able to identify ancient embalming components, including pine oils, frankincense, myrrh, and cinnamon. We also detected decomposed animal fats used in the embalming process.”
Future Steps
Bembibre says, “We will recreate the scent of the mummies so that visitors to the Egyptian Museum can experience it up close. We will create a precise chemical composition of what we smelled. We hope our work with the mummies will serve as an example of how to revive another dimension of heritage.”
