Why do archaeologists absolutely not touch two 'colorful' things in ancient tombs?

With the concept of bringing a full life in the "other world", many gold, silver, jewelry, treasures and other treasures became burial objects found in ancient tombs. However, in the process of excavating ancient tombs, there is a problem that makes experts and archaeologists "scratch their heads". That is how to protect cultural relics in ancient tombs.

Normally, antiques such as ceramic vases, gold and silver vases are not afraid of oxidation and can remain intact after thousands of years. But other antiques are not like that. Because if not properly protected, these antiques can be damaged by oxidation or other factors.

The process of excavating ancient tombs is fraught with difficulties as experts are faced with highly fragile artifacts.

Funerary objects reflect the beliefs or living habits of ancient people. For example, if chicken eggs are found in an ancient tomb , it shows that the tomb owner may have enjoyed eating eggs and maintained this hobby even after death. This is also a sign of the tomb owner's wealth and high status.

A jar of chicken eggs was found in a 2,500-year-old ancient tomb in Liyang County, Jiangsu Province in March 2019.

However, when discovering chicken eggs in ancient tombs of thousands of years, archaeologists will absolutely not touch them to avoid damaging the artifacts. Even if using the softest brush to touch the eggshells will still break due to being buried deep underground for hundreds of years. Instead, experts will use X-ray methods to determine the quantity. In particular, through DNA testing, researchers can determine whether the eggs in ancient tombs have been soaked in salt or not.

Besides chicken eggs, there are two colorful things that archaeologists will absolutely not touch immediately after discovering them in ancient tombs.

Murals in ancient tombs reveal valuable information about the tomb's owner and the culture and customs of that period.

The first is frescoes. These are large paintings painted on walls, partitions or ceilings. When excavating ancient tombs, archaeologists often discover frescoes. These frescoes are carved or painted on the walls of ancient tombs.

Many frescoes can still maintain their original state with vivid colors and drawings thanks to the stable environment in ancient tombs. However, after the ancient tomb is opened, under the influence of oxidation, these precious frescoes can be damaged or turn black in a moment.

Silk is an artifact that is easily damaged during the excavation of ancient tombs.

Second is silk . In fact, silk was considered a luxury and rare commodity in ancient times. This product was even used to name the "Silk Road" , the famous trade route connecting the East with the West. Because of its rarity, silk and silk fabrics are also rarely found in ancient tombs, because they are very fragile.

According to archaeologists, the reason why silk fabrics in ancient tombs are easily damaged is similar to that of frescoes. Specifically, under the catalyst of the oxidation process, just touching them can cause damage to these precious fabrics .

The reason why archaeologists in China do not dare to touch silk is partly due to lessons from the past. Accordingly, in the years 1956 - 1958, when excavating the Dingling Tomb, the tomb of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty, although many rare artifacts were found, including silk. However, because the archaeological industry at that time was still backward and material conditions were lacking, some artifacts discovered in this tomb were seriously damaged.

Originally, the silk fabrics in this tomb were very delicate and splendid. However, due to the sudden change in environment, these treasures began to mold and were damaged by the slightest touch. This is truly a huge loss for the archaeological community.