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

• Published in: Antiquity 2009-12, Vol.83 (322), p.1109-1118
• Main Authors: James, Matthew A., Reifarth, Nicole, Mukherjee, Anna J., Crump, Matthew P., Gates, Paul J., Sandor, Peter, Robertson, Francesca, Pfälzner, Peter, Evershed, Richard P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Ancient civilizations of the near east; Archaeological excavation; Archaeology; Art and archaeology; Asia; biomarkers; Bronze Age; chemical mapping; Chromatography; Discovery and exploration; Dyes; Dyes and dyeing; excavation technique; Excavations (Archaeology); Fossils; Gold; gypsum; Hexaplex trunculus; Historic artifacts; indigoids; indirubinoids; Location; Mesopotamia and Near East; Metal Ages; Method; Near East; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Pliny [The Elder]; Prehistory and protohistory; Qatna; royal tomb; Royalty; sediments; Sepulchral monuments; shellfish purple; Socioeconomic status; Status congruency; Symbolic interaction; Syria; Textile chemistry; Textile fabrics; Textile ghosts; Textiles; Tyre; Tyrian purple
• ISSN: 0003-598X; 1745-1744
• DOI: 10.1017/S0003598X00099397

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.