Resins were widely used in ancient Egypt for a variety of purposes, including as incense, as varnish, in cosmetic and ritual preparations and in mummification. However, as Egypt had virtually no internal sources, these resins would have been obtained through trade. Although Egypt's contacts with the south for resin are well-known, little is known of the Mediterranean resin trade. This study took a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating not only archaeological information, but also botanical data, chemical residue analysis and microscopic examination of pottery fabrics to find evidence of this trade. Each of the above mentioned usages was studied. Resins and resinous products subsequently identified included pistacia resin and pitch, Pinaceae resin, including coniferous pitch, cedar resin and cedar-scented products. These usages indicated a high level of demand for Mediterranean resins. Study of amphorae imported from Syria-Palestine to the site of Tell el- Amarna indicated a strong link between resin trade and Canaanite storage jars. The study of the distribution of these jars, in Egypt, Israel and on the contemporary shipwreck at Ulu Burun, Turkey, provided valuable information on Mediterranean resin trade.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:362850 |
| Date | January 1997 |
| Creators | Serpico, Margaret Teresa |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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