Museo del Prado software expands to analyze ancient Egyptian textiles

The Museo Nacional del Prado, in collaboration with the University of Seville, has expanded the application of its pioneering software, Aracne, to the field of Egyptology. Originally developed over a decade to analyze the canvas and thread density of paintings, the tool is now being used to examine ancient textiles found in the Theban necropolis of Luxor, Egypt.

Researchers including Laura Alba Carcelén and Juan José Murillo Fuentes have applied the technology to funerary fabrics discovered during the Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission known as Project C2. Located near Deir el-Bahari in the Valley of the Royal Mummies, the project investigates sites where pharaohs were once hidden to protect them from tomb robbers.

Aracne automates the measurement of thread density, weave direction (warp and weft), and irregularities in the fabric. This provides a level of precision and speed that exceeds manual methods, which are often hindered by the fragile state of ancient fibers. The technology aims to help researchers better understand the ritual re-preparation of mummified bodies and the history of funerary conservation in ancient Egypt.