Preliminary Study of the Application of Fourier Transform Raman Spectroscopy to the Analysis of Degraded Archaeological Linen Textiles

Abstract

A preliminary investigation of the novel application of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy to the non-destructive analysis of archaeological fabrics is illustrated with linen samples from two sites, one a mummy-wrapping from a XIIth Dynastic Egyptian rock tomb burial (ca. 1900 BC) and the other some cloth from a mass grave at Kasr-el-Yahud, near Jericho in the Dead Sea region (AD 614). Comparison of the spectra with that of pure cotton, another cellulose-based natural fibre, was effected and a distinction between the two was demonstrated. The samples were not pretreated chemically before analysis, and were used directly from their respective storage collections.