Νon-invasive pigments identification in Macedonian Tomb of Hellenistic period

PDF
Published: Jun 18, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/monubasin.8347
Keywords:
non-invasive techniques X-Ray Fluorescence VIS-Near IR Fiber Optics Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis pigments
Vasiliki Dritsa
Konstantinos Mantelos
Maria Koui
Ekaterini Ftikou
Abstract

The aim of the present research work is the characterization of pigments using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques. Ten samples found at excavations in a funerary monument located in East Macedonia and dated in the Hellenistic Period were investigated. Five powder samples were collected from the painted surface of the caisson ceiling of the tomb and five parts belonged to the painted surface of the detached entablature of the tomb. Due to the high historical value of the samples and their small quantity (granules), they were investigated using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and VIS-Near IR Fiber Optics Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS). The measurements were conducted in every color impression (white, red, yellow, blue, black) of the samples in order to determine the elemental chemical composition and analysis of the spectral reflectance of their pigments. Additionally, the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technique was performed to characterize the organic binders and painting technique used. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM-EDX) was also applied to show the architecture, identify image particles and determine elemental analysis. Calcite, cinnabar, red ochre, yellow ochre, Egyptian blue and amorphous carbon were identified. Furthermore, marble was the major component of the architectural surfaces of the tomb. Regarding the painting technique, the detection of a high concentration of calcium and the presence of a protein-binding medium in all samples likely suggests the employment of a mixed wall painting technique involving both fresco and secco.

Article Details
  • Section
  • Part IV - Methodologies for Characterization and Damage Assessment

You are free to:

  1. Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  2. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

  1. Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  2. NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
  3. NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
  4. No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Author Biographies
Vasiliki Dritsa

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

Konstantinos Mantelos

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

Maria Koui

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

Ekaterini Ftikou

Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments Athens, Ministry of Culture, Athens, Greece

References
Koui, M., Dritsa, V.: Non-destructive testing application methodologies and approach on the painting technique on cultural heritage artifacts. Kallipos, Open Academic Editions. https://dx.doi.org/10.57713/kallipos-342(2023).
Rapp, G.: Pigments and Colorants. In: Archaeomineralogy. Natural Science in Archaeology. Springer, Ber-lin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78594-1_9,(2009).
Johnston- Feller, R.: Color science in the examination of museum objects: Non destructive procedures. Tools for Conservation. The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles (2001).
Saint, A.C., Dritsa, V., Cheilakou, E., Valavani, E., Margariti, C., Efthimiou, K., & Koui, M.: Non-invasive Identification of the Pigments and Their Application on Theophilos Hatzimihail's Easel Paintings: Natural and Anthropogenic Hazards and Sustainable Preservation, 10.1007/978-3-319-78093-1_22 (2018).
Madariaga, J.M.: Analytical chemistry in the field of cultural heritage. Analytical Methods 7(12), 4848-4876 (2015).
Artioli, G., Angelini, I.: Scientific methods and cultural heritage: an introduction to the application of ma-terials science to archaeometry and conservation science. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2010).
Osman, E., Zidan, Y., Kamal, N.: Using the Microscopic and Spectroscopic Techniques to Identify and Characterize Archaeological Artifacts. International Journal of Conservation Science, 5(4), pp 459-468, (2014).
Van Grieken, R., Janssens, K.: Cultural heritage conservation and environmental impact assessment by non-destructive testing and micro-analysis. New York: Taylor and Francis (2004).
Cheilakou, E: The application of spectroscopic and non-destructive methods for the characterization, damage assessment and preservation-conservation historical artworks. Phd thesis, NTUA (2012).
Koui, M., Cheilakou, E., Theodorakeas, P., Dritsa, V., Avdelidis, N.: Non destructive and spectroscopic methods for materials analysis. Kallipos, Open Academic Editions. (2016).
Mantelos, K: Charactrisation and identification of pigments in a Macedonian cemetery of the hellenistic period using spectroscopic and non-destructive methods. Diploma thesis, NTUA (2016).
Sfarra, S., Cheilakou, E., Theodorakeas, P., Paoletti, D., Koui. M. : S.S. Annunziata Church (L'Aquila, Italy) unveiled by non- and micro-destructive testing techniques. Journal of Applied Physics A: Materials Science & Processing 123 (3), art. no. 215(2017).
Cheilakou E., Dritsa V., Saint A., Theodorakeas P., Koui M., Kostanti K., Christopoulou, A.: Non-invasive identification of pigments on Mycenaean wall paintings (14th - 12th Century BC) from the ar-chaeological sites of Mycenae and Tiryns, Peloponnese. In: Proceedings the 9th International Symposium on the Conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean Basin, (3-5 June, 2014), Ankara, Turkey, pp. 505-517 (2014).
Casoli A.: Research on the Organic Binders in Archaeological Wall Paintings. Applied Sciences 1(19),9179. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11199179 (2021).
Germinario, C., Francesco, I., Mercurio, M. et al. Multi-analytical and non-invasive characterization of the polychromy of wall paintings at the Domus of Octavius Quartio in Pompeii. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 133, 359 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2018-12224-
Dritsa, V.: FT-IR Spectroscopy in Medicine. In T. Theophanides (Ed), Infrared Spectroscopy - Life and Biomedical Sciences, ISBN: 978-953-51-0538-1 (2012).