Ancient Egyptian mummies smell "woody," "spicy" and "sweet", according to researchers who took part in a unique new study.

参与一项独特新研究的研究人员表示，古埃及木乃伊闻起来有“木质香”、“辛辣味”和“甜味”。



Researchers used what they described as "trained, human sniffers" and equipment like an electronic, artificial nose of sorts to study the scent of nine mummified bodies.

研究人员利用他们所说的“经过训练的人体嗅探器”以及类似电子人工鼻等设备， 研究了九具木乃伊的气味。

They said smell was a key consideration for ancient Egyptians when it came to the mummification process, meaning that even 5,000 years later, conservators widely consider the aroma "pleasant" due to the use of resins and oils such as pine, cedar, and juniper.

他们表示，古埃及人在制作木乃伊的过程中会重点考虑气味因素，这意味着即使在5000年后的今天，由于使用了松脂、雪松油、杜松油等树脂和油脂， 保护人员仍普遍认为这些木乃伊的气味“宜人”。

The findings, researchers said, which were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, show that smell can be used as a way of analysing the preserved bodies in a non-invasive way, but they also want to find a way to recreate the smells in museums to give visitors the full mummy experience.

研究人员称，这些发现已发表在《美国化学学会志》上， 结果表明，气味可以作为一种非侵入式手段来分析保存下来的尸体， 但他们还想找到一种方法，在博物馆中重现这些气味，让参观者获得完整的木乃伊体验。

The research was carried out by teams at the University College London (UCL) and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia in collaboration with conservators and curators at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

这项研究由伦敦大学学院（UCL）和斯洛文尼亚卢布尔雅那大学的团队与开罗埃及博物馆的保护人员和策展人合作进行。

Lead author professor Matija Strlic said: "The smell of mummified bodies has for years attracted significant interest from experts and the general public, but no combined chemical and perceptual scientific study has been conducted until now.

主要作者马蒂亚·斯特利奇教授说：“多年来，木乃伊的气味一直吸引着专家和公众的巨大兴趣， 但直到现在，还没有进行过将化学和感知科学相结合的研究。

"This ground-breaking research really helps us better plan conservation and understand the ancient embalming materials. It adds another layer of data to enrich the museum exhibition of mummified bodies."

“这项开创性的研究真的有助于我们更好地规划保护工作，并了解古代的防腐材料。它为丰富木乃伊博物馆展览提供了另一层数据。”

Professor Ali Abdelhalim, co-author and director of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, said: "To the ancient Egyptians, mummification was an important mortuary practice aimed at preserving the body and soul for the afterlife through a detailed ritual of embalming of the deceased using oils, waxes and balms.

共同作者兼开罗埃及博物馆馆长阿里·阿卜杜勒·哈利姆教授说：“对古埃及人来说， 木乃伊化是一种重要的丧葬习俗，旨在通过详细的防腐仪式，使用油脂、蜡和香油等物品来保存死者的身体和灵魂， 以供来世之用。

"The practice evolved over time, and identifying different techniques and materials used offers insights into the era, location and socioeconomic status of the individual being mummified."

“这种习俗随着时间的推移而演变， 确定所使用的不同技术和材料有助于我们了解被制成木乃伊者的时代、地点和社会经济地位。”

The researchers used various techniques and scientific equipment to identify the chemicals emitted by the mummified bodies, then the panel of human "sniffers" described the smells in terms of quality, intensity, and pleasantness.

研究人员使用了各种技术和科学设备来确定木乃伊尸体释放的化学物质， 然后人类“嗅探者”小组从质量、强度和愉悦度方面描述了气味。

They said they would now attempt to create "smellscapes" in museums with ancient mummy exhibits to "enable audiences to experience this important aspect of ancient Egyptian heritage".

他们表示，现在将尝试在古代木乃伊展出的博物馆中打造“气味景观”， 让参观者能够“体验这一古埃及遗产的重要方面”。

                                      素材来源：iYuba