Guerra, Maria Filomena

Manley, W P

Tate, Jim

Troalen, Lore

National Museums Scotland Research Repository

“Amazing 17th Dynasty Necklaces from Qurneh.”
Lore Troalen1, Jim Tate1, Maria Filomena Guerra2
1, Conservation and Analytical Research Department;  National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street EH1 1JF – Edinburgh
2, Centre for Research and Restoration of the French Museums, 14 quai François Mitterrand - Paris
Introduction
The Egyptian collection of National Museums Scotland includes a 17th Dynasty burial of an adult female and child 
excavated by Petrie in 1909 at Qurneh. The adult coffin is painted and gilded and there are extensive grave goods. In 
contrast the child was buried in a simple wooden box, but also containing personal jewellery of extremely fine 
construction. 
Scientific Investigation
Recent conservation provided the opportunity for the technological examination of some of this jewellery using binocular 
microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) and PIXE analysis. SEM-EDX analyses at NMS used a 
Camscan MX2500 microscope coupled with a Noran Vantage EDX system. PIXE analyses at C2RMF used an external 
micro-beam of protons (3 MeV - 30µm diameter) with a 75 µm Cu filter (AGLAE Accelerator). 
All the rings show remarkable uniformity with almost invisible joints. Each ring is 4.5mm diameter and presents an average 
composition of gold (87,6%), silver (10,5%) and copper (1,9%). Both SEM and the PIXE micro beam were used to scan across 
the joint area. The graph shows the PIXE results for one ring where the copper content in the joint area is about 2.5% higher than 
elsewhere. How the beads were made is still not completely clear and is still being investigated. However, the appearance of the
internal surface suggests that they were cast, possibly as a band, that was then cut and worked up to form the individual rings 
and closed by soldering.
The adult jewellery
The adult jewellery includes 4 plain gold bracelets, 2 large ear-rings and an impressive gold necklace made of 1653 ring beads, 
strung in four rows and often been described as one of the earliest shebiu collar. The rows are linked by a pair of terminals, each 
terminal consisting of four tubes made of eight ring soldered together. 
Below: Binocular images of the four rows, terminal and single ring with SEM-BSE microphotographs of a single ring, with detail of the joint area and PIXE Results.
The child jewellery
These are simpler and smaller than the adult pieces. The earrings are 4 rings, very similar to those of the adult necklace, 
soldered together. Below: Binocular image and X radiograph of the child earring with SEM-BSE microphotographs of  the rings with soldering area and detail  of 
surface morphology.
The child necklace is also much smaller, again made from individual rings. Each ring is <1,5mm diameter but with more variable 
dimensions and composition. Although as yet uncleaned, SEM-EDX and PIXE analyses suggest that the rings are made from 
electrum with an average composition of gold (67,6%), silver (29,4%) and copper (2,0%). Similar compositions were found for 
gold objects from the Levant (Nahal Kana Cave) dating from the Chalcolithic [Gopher, Tsuk, Shalev&Gophna 1990, Earliest Gold 
Artefacts in the Levant, Current Anthropology 31:4, 436-443]. Interestingly the adult burial also contains an electrum girdle.
Below: Binocular image and SEM-BSE microphotographs of a single bead showing the joint, where the bead is slightly flattened.
The earrings were also examined. The adult earrings were made from a sheet which was shaped by hammering, rolled to form a 
cylinder and then worked to form a ring. Four cylindrical rings were then soldered together complete with circular plates to close 
the open ends.
Below: Binocular image and X Radiograph of the earring with SEM-BSE microphotographs of rolled tube with detail of soldering and overlap of the rolled sheet and 
some detail of the end soldered plate. 
These beads have a simple, often open, joint. They also show a slight 
border, possibly suggesting wear or adjustment to an adjacent round stone 
or glass bead, although this was not recorded in Petrie’s report. 
Study of composition and technology of the jewellery assembly will continue 
following cleaning and possible sectioning of one of the child necklace 
beads. 
We thanks colleagues and NMS, C2RMF, AGLAE and support from Eu-ARTECH. 
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Amazing Dynasty 17 jewellery from Qurneh

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