Summary:
- Researchers have identified that ancient Chinese artisans incorporated animal blood into the plaster used for mural paintings, which acted as a binding agent to enhance durability.
- The chemical interaction between the proteins in the blood and the lime plaster created a resilient structure that has allowed these artworks to withstand environmental degradation for two millennia.
- This discovery provides significant insights into ancient material science and conservation techniques, explaining how complex organic-inorganic composites were engineered long before modern chemical binders existed.