Alum Mines
Alum, a hydrated sulphate rich in aluminium and other metallic elements, was widely used by ancient and ethnographic peoples as a mordant, as a cleanser/detergent and in a large range of medicinal uses.
With the Egyptian Geological Survey, this project has been involved in investigating the sources of these alums, often far out in the Western Desert of Egypt, and studying their method of extraction and transport.
Laboratory tests have been carried out researching into their uses and comparing the results to those given in surviving ancient texts.
Further fieldwork will be carried out in co-operation with the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and the Workshop on Ancient Raw Materials (WARM) project.
Return to Archaeological Research Projects
Dr Andrew J Shortland
T: +44 (0)1793 785642
E: a.shortland@cranfield.ac.uk
Centre for Archaeological and Forensic Analysis
Centre for Forensic Anthropology Research
