Fayum Portrait Tondo Restored for Exhibition
A rare double-portrait mummy panel from Roman Egypt has been conserved, while new research suggests Neanderthals may have used birch tar as an antibacterial agent.
Two distinct archaeological studies reveal new insights into ancient materials and their preservation. The first details the careful conservation of a rare Roman-Egyptian mummy portrait, preparing it for an international exhibition. The second presents experimental research indicating a common prehistoric adhesive had medicinal properties.
Fayum Portrait Conservation
A 2,000-year-old Fayum mummy portrait known as the Tondo of the Two Brothers has been restored by a joint Egyptian and Italian conservation team. The circular encaustic-on-wood panel, measuring 62 centimeters in diameter, was discovered at the Fayum necropolis southwest of Cairo and is rare for depicting two young men side by side. The wood had suffered extensive damage from boring insects, likely termites, and a previous restoration attempt had misplaced fragments from the mouth and chin of the figure on the right.
Conservators stabilized the damaged areas with a lightweight filler matching the wood's color and carefully repaired displaced fragments. They removed, flattened, and reinforced these pieces before returning them to their original positions using balsa wood supports. Ultrasound scans conducted during the process revealed the ancient artist used a darkening varnish in the hair of both subjects, providing new technical information about portrait creation. Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the portrait's significance as evidence for studying Roman-Egyptian art, noting the conservation required particular care due to the fragility of both the wood and the painted surface.
The restored Tondo of the Two Brothers will leave Egypt for the first time to be the centerpiece of an exhibition titled The Power of the Portrait: Egypt and Rome, Faces of Fayum. The show will run from November 5, 2026, to May 2, 2027, at Rome's Ara Pacis Museum and will feature more than 110 objects, including 24 painted portraits.
Neanderthal Birch Tar Study
New experimental research suggests Neanderthals may have used birch tar, a substance known as a prehistoric glue, for its antibacterial properties to treat wounds. Scientists from the University of Cologne, Oxford, Liège, and Cape Breton University recreated ancient birch tar production techniques and found every sample could inhibit bacteria responsible for dangerous wound infections. The study posits the material served a dual purpose in toolmaking and medicine.
Birch tar is a thick, sticky substance obtained by heating birch bark, and archaeologists have found traces of it at numerous Neanderthal sites across Europe, often attached to stone tools. For decades, it was primarily interpreted as an adhesive for hafting, the process of attaching stone points to wooden handles. However, evidence of Neanderthal plant use and medical care prompted researchers to investigate other potential applications. Tjaark Siemssen, leading the study, stated, Alongside these findings, there is also growing evidence of medicinal practices and the use of plants among Neanderthals, which is why we were interested in the use of birch tar in this context.
The team produced birch tar using techniques reconstructed from archaeological evidence associated with Neanderthals, rather than modern industrial methods. One technique involved placing birch bark in an underground pit and heating it. The resulting tar was then tested against bacteria, confirming its inhibitory effects. This finding opens a new perspective on the cognitive capabilities and practical knowledge of Neanderthals, suggesting they may have recognized and exploited the medicinal affordances of materials in their environment.
