Spectroscopic techniques applied to the study of Italian painted Neolithic Potteries

Year: 2006

Authors: Angeli L., Arias C., Cristoforetti G., Fabbri C., Legnaioli S., Palleschi V., Radi G., Tognoni E., Salvetti A.

Autors Affiliation: Department of Archaelogical Science, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Institute for Chemical and Physical Processes, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: In the field of cultural heritage, the study of the materials used by the artist is useful both for the knowledge of the artwork and for conservation and restoring interventions. In this communication, we present results of some decorations analysis obtained by the use of two complementary laser techniques: micro-LIBS and micro-Raman spectroscopy. With both techniques it is possible to
operate in a practically nondestructive way on the artwork itself, without sampling or pretreatment. Micro-Raman spectroscopy gives information on the molecular structure of the pigments used, while micro-LIBS can give quantitative information about the elemental composition of the samematerials. In this paper, qualitative results are reported obtained on the study of some Neolithic
potteries coming from the archaeological site of Trasano (Matera); the fragments show decorations in different colors, red, black, and white. The aim of the study was detecting whether the colored decorations were made by using added pigments or came from the manufacturing process.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS

Volume: ID 61607      Pages from: 1  to: 7

KeyWords: LIBS; Raman;
DOI: 10.1155/2006/61607