SHINING THE BEAM ON EGYPTIAN MUMMIES IN TOSCA - EFFECTS OF FIRE ON THE EGYPTIAN COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM-BRAZIL

Inelastic neutron scattering spectroscopy in TOSCA will be applied to analyse skeletal remains from mummies of the Egyptian Collection of the brazilian National Museum, which were damaged by fire in 2018. 4 different mummies will be probed, including a particularly interesting one from the Roman Period due to its specific mummification process (1 among 7 worldwide). Based on the team´s previous expertise in the analysis of burned human bones by vibrational spectroscopy, the present results are expected to deliver the burning conditions, and to determine the impact of the mummification process on the heat-induced effects in bone. Understanding how fire affected these mummified bones is a crucial step for the preservation of the Museum´s collection. This is a pioneer neutron study on mummified human bones subjected to burning.