Colourant chemistry identifies ancient Greek workshop for Tyrian purple

Chemical analysis of ancient pigment samples has helped archaeologists identify a site on the Greek island of Aegina where the dye Tyrian purple was manufactured 3600 years ago. Guided by archaeological, zoological and chemical evidence, the researchers conclude that the settlement of Cape Kolonna contained a purple dye workshop that may have practised ritual animal sacrifice.

Tyrian purple, also known as royal purple, was an extremely valuable dye associated with nobility throughout the Mediterranean region during the Bronze Age. The dye is produced by fermenting mucous secretions from sea snails. Several different species of snails can be used to make a purple dye, but only three Mediterranean species were exploited at economically relevant levels – the banded dye-murex (Hexaplex trunculus) , the spiny dye-murex (Bolinus brandaris) and the red-mouthed rock shell (Stramonita haemastoma). The final shade of textiles dyed with Tyrian purple could range from greenish–blue to purple–red depending on the species of snail used, and how the fabric was processed.