Next Article in Journal
Romanino’s Colour Palette in the “Musicians” Fresco of the Duomo Vecchio, Brescia
Previous Article in Journal
An Ultradolichocephaly in a Knight of the Order of Calatrava from the Castle of Zorita de los Canes (Guadalajara, Spain) Dated Between the 13th and 15th Centuries
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies

by
Maria Diletta Pubblico
1,2
1
Museo Egizio, 10123 Turi, Italy
2
UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
Heritage 2025, 8(10), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415
Submission received: 10 September 2025 / Revised: 30 September 2025 / Accepted: 1 October 2025 / Published: 3 October 2025

Abstract

This study presents the first systematic investigation of ancient Egyptian votive animal mummy wrappings, based on the analysis of an extensive dataset encompassing specimens from various museum collections and archaeologicalcontexts. The research addresses the long-standing neglect and fragmented understanding of the wrapping chaîne opératoire and aims to establish a consistent terminology, as the different stages of the wrapping sequence, bundle shapes, and decorative patterns have often been described vaguely. Through an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates photogrammetry, colorant identification, textile analysis, and experimental archeology, the study explores the complexity of wrapping practices across their different stages. This approach offers new insights into the structural logic, raw material selection, and design conventions behind this production. The analysis reveals that the bundles exhibit standardized shapes and decorative patterns grounded in well-established visual criteria and manufacturing sequences. These findings demonstrate that the wrappings reflect a codified visual language and a high level of technical knowledge, deeply rooted in Egyptian tradition. The study also emphasizes its economic implications: the wrapping significantly enhanced the perceived value of the offering, becoming the primary element influencing both its material and symbolic worth. Ultimately, this work provides an interpretative framework for understanding wrapping as an essential medium of ritual sacralization for votive animal mummies, allowing the individual prayer to be effectively conveyed to the intended deity. Consequently, this research marks a significant step forward in advancing the technical, aesthetic, and ritual insight of wrapping practices, which preserve a wealth of still-overlooked information.
Keywords: votive animal mummies; wrapping; patterns; bundle shapes; craftsmanship; chaîne opératoire; terminology; photogrammetry; MSI techniques; FORS; experimental archeology votive animal mummies; wrapping; patterns; bundle shapes; craftsmanship; chaîne opératoire; terminology; photogrammetry; MSI techniques; FORS; experimental archeology

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Pubblico, M.D. Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies. Heritage 2025, 8, 415. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415

AMA Style

Pubblico MD. Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies. Heritage. 2025; 8(10):415. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pubblico, Maria Diletta. 2025. "Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies" Heritage 8, no. 10: 415. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415

APA Style

Pubblico, M. D. (2025). Wrapping Matters: Unpacking the Materiality of Votive Animal Mummies. Heritage, 8(10), 415. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8100415

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop