Spectroscopy and Archaeology: An Inside Look at Ancient Egyptian History
Spectroscopy magazine is pleased to welcome you to the “Spectroscopy and Archaeology: An Inside Look at Ancient Egyptian History” landing page, one of two landing pages in our “Spectroscopy and Archaeology” content series!
Below we have four articles that highlight recent spectroscopic studies undertaken to help us understand Ancient Egypt better.
Click on a story below to begin your journey!
Featured Q & A
Non-Invasive Methods for Studying Papyrus from Ancient Egypt
In this recent Q & A, Arzak Mohamed from Macquarie University in Australia breaks down how she uses spectroscopy to analyze ancient manuscripts.
Click here to access this Q & A:
https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/non-invasive-methods-for-studying-papyrus-from-ancient-egypt
Featured Article
Ancient History Revealed Using Laser Light: Unraveling the Secrets of Roman Egyptian Blue
A study published in Scientific Reports has given intricate details into the production and composition of Roman Egyptian blue pigment, which originated in Egypt. Using advanced Raman microspectroscopy, researchers explored pigment balls and murals from ancient Swiss cities, uncovering evidence of raw material provenance, crystal lattice disorder, and the formation of a copper-bearing green glass phase, revealing the sophisticated techniques employed by Roman artisans.
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Recent Spectroscopic Studies in Ancient Egyptian Archaeology
PXRF Analysis Reveals Unique Deterioration in Ancient Pottery
In a recent study, researchers used portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis to determine how pottery vessels uncovered at Saqqara degraded over thousands of years.
Click here to read about this study:
Using Spectroscopy to Characterize Gems in Ancient Egyptian Mines
In a recent study published in the journal AIP Advances, researchers used molecular and elemental spectroscopic techniques, such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, to characterize silicate gems found in ancient Egyptian mines.
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Scientists Unveil Better Mixing Rule for Absorption Spectroscopy of Aerosols and Colloids
June 16th 2025Researchers have introduced a simple yet powerful new rule based on Rayleigh scattering theory that accurately links the absorption behavior of composite media, like aerosols or colloids, to the properties of their nanoparticle constituents.
Short Tutorial: Complex-Valued Chemometrics for Composition Analysis
June 16th 2025In this tutorial, Thomas G. Mayerhöfer and Jürgen Popp introduce complex-valued chemometrics as a more physically grounded alternative to traditional intensity-based spectroscopy measurement methods. By incorporating both the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index of a sample, this approach preserves phase information and improves linearity with sample analyte concentration. The result is more robust and interpretable multivariate models, especially in systems affected by nonlinear effects or strong solvent and analyte interactions.
