Real Deal Spolas

[Feinman]

The scale armour in Tut's tomb was most likely oil tanned. The black goo that was found on the armour is what happens when oil-cured hide deteriorates.

Hulit said it was translucent, i.e. light could pass through it. Tanning oil or veg creates an interlocking fibrous network that is opaque.  I suspect the goo was just just rawhide scales that had broken down in addition to some protective shiny coating that was probably oil based.  In Homer the oil must be worked into the hide by manually bending the leather until the oil is worked into it, also made it soft.Tut's scales are also painted red on one side;  no period paint would stick to oil tan --I don't even think acrylic would.  the red paint would need to be sealed along with the hide or it would stain things.