Turkish researchers have uncovered the formula for an ancient Mesopotamian perfume during excavations in Ashur, the capital of ancient Assyria, located in modern-day Iraq. In the second millennium BCE, the area where the tablets were found was part of Ancient Mesopotamia.
The formula, inscribed on clay tablets, was left around 3,200 years ago by a renowned female perfumer named Tapputi-Belatekallim. Belatekallim translates to “woman, keeper of the house.” Tapputi, on the other hand, represents an ancient brand known for producing exquisite Mesopotamian perfumes. According to scholars, Tapputi-Belatekallim was the first female chemist in Mesopotamia and the world’s first female perfumer.
What Researchers Discovered
A group of scientists, in collaboration with the Turkish Academy of Scents and the Aroma Culture Association, recreated the unique perfume in Diyarbakır, Turkey. They aimed to adhere as closely as possible to the techniques outlined on the tablets. At the same time, the specialists conducted extensive research into the Mesopotamian perfume-making methods of Tapputi, as reported by Greek Reporter.
Initially, the researchers sought to understand the process of creating ancient perfumes before attempting to accurately revive the scent once crafted by Tapputi-Belatekallim.
According to the inscriptions on the tablets, Tapputi used various types of oils, calamus, cyperus, myrrh, horseradish, spices, and balsam. She mixed the ingredients with water and other solvents, distilled them, and then filtered the resulting liquid multiple times. The perfumer worked exclusively during the full moon.
The translation of the inscriptions spanned 27 pages. However, according to archaeologist Senker Atila, the team encountered some challenges while interpreting the formula.
One issue was that the tablets were broken, resulting in the permanent loss of some crucial parts of the inscriptions. Another challenge was that some names of ingredients, colors, and vessels used 3,200 years ago do not have exact equivalents in modern language. For instance, researchers are still uncertain about what “chirsu” refers to. Thus, while the team largely achieved their goal, a thorough study of the tablet contents continues.
According to scientists, the primary reason Mesopotamia had a rich culture of scents was its fertile lands.