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High prestige Royal Purple dyed textiles from the Bronze Age royal tomb at Qatna, Syria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Matthew A. James ,
Nicole Reifarth ,
Anna J. Mukherjee ,
Matthew P. Crump ,
Paul J. Gates ,
Peter Sandor ,
Francesca Robertson ,
Peter Pfälzner  and
Richard P. Evershed
Matthew A. James
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Nicole Reifarth
Affiliation:
Institut für Archaeologie, Bauforschung und Denkmalpflege, Universitat Bamberg, Am Kranen 14, 96045 Bamberg, Germany
Anna J. Mukherjee
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Matthew P. Crump
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Paul J. Gates
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Peter Sandor
Affiliation:
Varian Deutschland GmbH, Magnetic Resonance Systems, Alsfelder Strasse 6, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany
Francesca Robertson
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
Peter Pfälzner
Affiliation:
Altorientalisches Seminar, Schloß Hohentübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
Richard P. Evershed*
Affiliation:
Organic Geochemistry Unit, Bristol Biogeochemistry Research Centre, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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Abstract

During the ongoing excavations in the palace of the famous Qatna complex, the excavators noted patches of brown staining on the floor of a high status tomb. Chemical extraction revealed the presence of brominated derivatives of indigo and indirubin, and more detailed characterisation showed that it likely came from Hexaplex trunculus. In short, this was none other than the renowned Tyrian or Royal Purple mentioned by Pliny, which was to have such an influential career colouring the clothing of the powerful. Furthermore, it was associated in the tomb with ghosts of high quality textiles preserved in gypsum.

Keywords

QatnaSyriaroyal tombsedimentsbiomarkersindigoidsindirubinoidsshellfish purpletextilesgypsumchemical mappingexcavation technique
Type
Method
Information
Antiquity , Volume 83 , Issue 322 , December 2009 , pp. 1109 - 1118
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2009

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