Ancient Egyptian Paints Contained Seeds and Animal Glue
Proteomics analysis reveals that artisans relied on opportunistic sourcing rather than fixed recipes for pigments.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Botany
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Researchers have identified complex animal and plant protein mixtures in ancient Egyptian paints and glues dating from 1425 BCE to 400 CE. The study utilized proteomics to detect ingredients like cattle collagen alongside sesame, moringa, wheat, and barley proteins.
Why it matters
The findings suggest ancient Egyptian workshops prioritized material availability over standardized formulas. This indicates that artists likely repurposed protein-rich residues from local oil production for their work.
Analysis identified 35 sesame protein fragments in the Tomb of Nebamun sample and 37 in a Greco-Roman coffin, alongside 21 moringa protein fragments in red paint. Testing confirmed no yeast presence in grain-based samples.
The players
British Museum
A London-based institution housing one of the world's most significant collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Medelhavsmuseet
A Stockholm-based museum specializing in Mediterranean and Near Eastern antiquities.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
A Copenhagen-based art museum that holds extensive archaeological collections.
The details
Researchers employed infrared light to initially screen samples before applying proteomics, a process that breaks proteins into short peptide chains to compare them against known biological databases. The detection of cattle, sheep, goat, donkey, and horse proteins alongside varied plant material suggests a lack of systematic, standardized manufacturing processes. Painters likely incorporated agricultural byproducts, such as the pressed cake leftover after oil extraction, as binders for their pigments.
Timeline
1425 BCE to 400 CE: The period during which the analyzed ancient objects were created.
1350 BCE: The approximate date associated with the painting of the Tomb of Nebamun.
The Tech Race
This research follows a growing trend of applying high-resolution proteomics to the study of ancient materials. It departs from legacy physical-only analysis by providing a molecular-level breakdown of the organic binder technology used by ancient civilizations.
This research provides new context for museum visitors viewing Egyptian antiquities by identifying the specific agricultural ingredients used in their creation. It also offers a blueprint for future chemical investigations into how ancient workshops managed resource scarcity.
The takeaway
Ancient Egyptian artisans were highly resourceful, frequently blending agricultural waste into their pigment binders. Watch for future studies as researchers expand this proteomics approach to determine if these specific ingredient combinations appear in other regional workshops.
What happens next
The authors plan to conduct further testing on additional painted objects to better estimate the historical frequency and consistency of these specific binding ingredients.
Further reading
Explore the intersection of plant-based materials and historical analysis in our Botany section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Earth.
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