Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ATAM is a Division of the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program

The mummy's wrappings were analyzed by a textile chemist who used both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Fabrics of three distinctly different weights were used, with the heaviest layer on the outside of the mummy.

The two inner layers showed the thick walls, nodes, and crosswise beat marks characteristic of flax fibers, or linen.

The outer layer appears to be ramie, characterized by small ridges, striations, and deep fissures. Since ramie contains matter that is resistant to microorganisms and insects, it may have been chosen deliberately as a protective, outer covering for the mummy.

Copyright 1999. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.