Multidisciplinary discovery of ancient restoration using a rare mud carapace on a mummified individual from late New Kingdom Egypt.

Funder: Rundle Foundation for Egyptian ArchaeologyCT scans of an unnamed mummified adult from Egypt, now in the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney (NMR.27.3), reveal it to be fully sheathed in a mud shell or carapace, exposing a mortuary treatment not previously documented in the Egyptian archaeological record. The carapace was placed between layers of linen wrappings thus it was not externally visible. Radiocarbon dating of textile samples provide a range of c.1370-1113 cal BC (95.4% probability), with a median date of 1207 cal BC. When assessed against mummification techniques of the era, the individual is placed in the late 19th-20th Dynasty, at the later end of this date range. Multi-proxy analysis including μ-XRF and Raman spectroscopy of carapace fragments from the head area revealed it to consist of three layers, comprising a thin base layer of mud, coated with a white calcite-based pigment and a red-painted surface of mixed composition. Whether the whole surface of the carapace was painted red is unknown. The carapace was a form of ancient conservation applied subsequent to post-mortem damage to the body, intended to reconfigure the body and enable continued existence of the deceased in the afterlife. The carapace can also be interpreted as a form of elite emulation imitating resin shells found within the wrappings of royal bodies from this period

Hathor in 'Spheres of belonging' : the Goddess in non-royal tombs of New Kingdom Thebes

26 page(s

Amarna Period erasures in the Theban Necropolis

Theoretical thesis.Two volumes in one.Bibliography: pages 280-301Volume 1: 1. Introduction -- 2. Commentary -- 3. Non-targeted tombs -- 4. The hidden one: the erasure of Amun -- 5. In his following: the erasure of Mut and other gods -- 6. Divine plurality: the erasure of nṯr.w and psḏ.t -- 7. Form or function?: the erasure of the officiant in the panther skin garment -- 8. Space: Amarna Period erasures within the context of the Theban Necropolis -- 9. Time: the erasure campaign with the chronology of the Amarna Period -- 10. Agency: the identity, competency, and beliefs of the erasers -- 11. Impact: ideological implications and consequences for the erasure campaign in the Theban Necropolis -- 12. Conclusion -- volume 2: Appendices.The Amarna Period of ancient Egypt, more specifically the reign of Akhenaten, saw a number of unprecedented changes to the religious climate. One of the most exceptional occurrences was the widespread erasure of certain words and images from monuments throughout the land. Although this destruction has been associated with the Amarna Period since the start of the academic analysis of this time, the study of the erasures themselves has developed only slowly. Their interpretation has been hampered by, on the one hand, the subjectivity that accompanies many commentaries of Akhenaten and his reign, and, on the other, the lack of any systematic approach to the recording and publishing of erasures as artefacts.Because of its religio-political context, abundance of monuments, and prolific documentation, the Theban necropolis provides an ideal case study for a close examination of these erasures. This analysis begins with the cataloguing of all examples diagnostic of the Amarna Period erasure program within the private tombs of the necropolis. The resulting corpus of material is then assessed through two different lenses: content and context. Firstly, the erasures themselves are examined to establish what elements were proscribed and why. Secondly, the mechanics behind the destruction are discussed, with a consideration of the identity of the erasers, their interaction with the sacred space of the necropolis, and the positioning of the campaign within the temporal and ideological setting of the Amarna Period.The primary finding of this investigation is that there was extensive variation in what elements were erased, how, and where. This indicates that the erasers did not operate as a uniform body, as is often conveyed in the scholarship, but rather had differing beliefs, instructions, and capabilities, and perhaps even visited the necropolis in different stages. As an underlying conclusion, it is suggested that a more consistent and objective approach to the recording and discussion of erasures by scholars is needed in order for their potential to be fully realised.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 301, approximately 300 pages

The characterisation of ceramic production from the Central Levant and Egyptian trade in the Pyramid Age

A recent petrographic study of ceramic jars from Giza imported into Egypt during the 4th Dynasty of the Pyramid Age (c. 2613–2494 BC) identified the original production zone as the Lebanese coast generally between Beirut and Tripoli, including the region of Byblos. The jars and their contents were imported to Egypt by maritime trade expeditions conducted at the behest of the Egyptian state. This study analyses a selection of these ceramic samples using ICP-AES and -MS for comparison with published data from the region of Byblos. The results not only confirmed the underlying petrography, but together with new evidence from Lebanon suggests the vessels likely belonged to specialised workshop production in the Byblos environs and were made specifically for export to Egypt. The finding sheds new light on the relationship between the Egyptian state and the polity of Byblos in the Early Bronze Age, indicating the presence of standardised local production and commodity procurement mechanisms tailored to the needs of a large trade entity. This relationship in turn delivered significant prestige and status to local elites in an environment of competitive local peer-polity interactions

Multidisciplinary discovery of ancient restoration using a rare mud carapace on a mummified individual from late New Kingdom Egypt.

CT scans of an unnamed mummified adult from Egypt, now in the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney (NMR.27.3), reveal it to be fully sheathed in a mud shell or carapace, exposing a mortuary treatment not previously documented in the Egyptian archaeological record. The carapace was placed between layers of linen wrappings thus it was not externally visible. Radiocarbon dating of textile samples provide a range of c.1370-1113 cal BC (95.4% probability), with a median date of 1207 cal BC. When assessed against mummification techniques of the era, the individual is placed in the late 19th-20th Dynasty, at the later end of this date range. Multi-proxy analysis including μ-XRF and Raman spectroscopy of carapace fragments from the head area revealed it to consist of three layers, comprising a thin base layer of mud, coated with a white calcite-based pigment and a red-painted surface of mixed composition. Whether the whole surface of the carapace was painted red is unknown. The carapace was a form of ancient conservation applied subsequent to post-mortem damage to the body, intended to reconfigure the body and enable continued existence of the deceased in the afterlife. The carapace can also be interpreted as a form of elite emulation imitating resin shells found within the wrappings of royal bodies from this period

Pressure ulcers: Effectiveness of risk-assessment tools. A randomised controlled trial (the ULCER trial)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of two pressure-ulcer screening tools against clinical judgement in preventing pressure ulcers. Design: A single blind randomised controlled trial. Setting: A large metropolitan tertiary hospital. Participants: 1231 patients admitted to internal medicine or oncology wards. Patients were excluded if their hospital stay was expected to be 2 days or less. Interventions: Participants allocated to either a Waterlow (n=410) or Ramstadius (n=411) screening tool group or to a clinical judgement group (n=410) where no formal risk screening instrument was used. Main outcome measure: Incidence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers ascertained by regular direct observation. Use of any devices for the prevention of pressure ulcers, documentation of a pressure plan and any dietetic or specialist skin integrity review were recorded. Results: On admission, 71 (5.8%) patients had an existing pressure ulcer. The incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers was similar between groups (clinical judgement 28/410 (6.8%); Waterlow 31/411 (7.5%); Ramstadius 22/410 (5.4%), p=0.44). Significant associations with pressure injury in regression modelling included requiring a dietetic referral, being admitted from a location other than home and age over 65 years. Conclusion: The authors found no evidence to show that two common pressure-ulcer risk-assessment tools are superior to clinical judgement to prevent pressure injury. Resources associated with use of these tools might be better spent on careful daily skin inspection and improving management targetted at specific risks. Study registration: The trial was registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinicat Trials Registry (ACTRN 12608000541303)

Routine versus clinically indicated replacement of peripheral intravenous catheters: a randomised controlled equivalence trial

Background The millions of peripheral intravenous catheters used each year are recommended for 72-96 h replacement in adults. This routine replacement increases health-care costs and staff workload and requires patients to undergo repeated invasive procedures. The effectiveness of the practice is not well established. Our hypothesis was that clinically indicated catheter replacement is of equal benefit to routine replacement. Methods This multicentre, randomised, non-blinded equivalence trial recruited adults (≥18 years) with an intravenous catheter of expected use longer than 4 days from three hospitals in Queensland, Australia, between May 20, 2008, and Sept 9, 2009. Computer-generated random assignment (1:1 ratio, no blocking, stratified by hospital, concealed before allocation) was to clinically indicated replacement, or third daily routine replacement. Patients, clinical staff, and research nurses could not be masked after treatment allocation because of the nature of the intervention. The primary outcome was phlebitis during catheterisation or within 48 h after removal. The equivalence margin was set at 3%. Primary analysis was by intention to treat. Secondary endpoints were catheter-related bloodstream and local infections, all bloodstream infections, catheter tip colonisation, infusion failure, catheter numbers used, therapy duration, mortality, and costs. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12608000445370. Findings All 3283 patients randomised (5907 catheters) were included in our analysis (1593 clinically indicated; 1690 routine replacement). Mean dwell time for catheters in situ on day 3 was 99 h (SD 54) when replaced as clinically indicated and 70 h (13) when routinely replaced. Phlebitis occurred in 114 of 1593 (7%) patients in the clinically indicated group and in 114 of 1690 (7%) patients in the routine replacement group, an absolute risk difference of 0 41% (95% CI -1 33 to 2 15%), which was within the prespecified 3% equivalence margin. No serious adverse events related to study interventions occurred. Interpretation Peripheral intravenous catheters can be removed as clinically indicated; this policy will avoid millions of catheter insertions, associated discomfort, and substantial costs in both equipment and staff workload. Ongoing close monitoring should continue with timely treatment cessation and prompt removal for complications. Funding Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

Do peatland microforms move through time? Examining the developmental history of a patterned peatland using ground-penetrating radar

Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to map subsurface patterns in peat physical properties, we investigated the developmental history of meso-scale surface patterning of microforms within a raised bog. Common offset GPR measurements were obtained along a 45-m transect, at frequencies ranging from 100 to 900 MHz. We found that low-frequency (central frequency = 240 MHz) showed a striking pattern of subsurface reflections that dip consistently in a northerly direction. The angle of these dipping reflectors is calculated using a semblance algorithm and was shown to average 3.9 degrees between a depth of 1.0 and 2.5 m. These dipping reflectors may indicate downslope migration of surface microforms during the development of the peatland. Based on the estimated angle and the rate of peat accumulation, the average rate of downslope propagation of these surface microforms is calculated at 9.8 mm per year. Further survey work is required to establish whether the downslope migration is common across the peatland