A non-destructive technological study of three fresco fragments from Iklaina, Pylos, Greece

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to conduct a non-destructive characterisation analysis of three fresco fragments from Iklaina, southern Peloponnese, Greece, in order to identify their manufacture techniques. Furthermore, this study aims at using the results of the scientific and analytical analyses to produce accurate replicas of these fragments (use of similar composition mortars, pigments, and manufacture techniques), which can be used for the restoration program of the site. These replicas will be exhibited alongside the originals in the new Pylos Archaeological Museum.Due to the high archaeological value of the objects, the analytical approach we followed was completely non-destructive and was based on the parallel use of optical microscopy, p-XRF and SEM/EDS. The analyses suggest the use of Egyptian blue pigment for the backgrounds. The wavy black coil of hair was painted with an organic black pigment. The use of inorganic pigments has been revealed on the upper layers on the basis of the identification of minerals and rocks. The substrate of the wall paintings is made of aluminosilicate lime mortars. The results corroborate the suggestions of previous studies for the pigments comprising the Mycenaean artistic palette and provides further insight on the artistic and technological choices made by Mycenaean artists.

Mineral Pigments in Archaeology: Their Analysis and the Range of Available Materials

“…It is clear that Egyptian Blue was considered a trade item during the Mediterranean Bronze Age, cakes of the pigment were found on the late 14th Century BCE Uluburun Wreck [171]. Egyptian Blue is found in frescoes from Minoan and Mycenean sites in Greece, which are dominated by a palette of red, yellow, black, white and blue [34][35][36][172][173][174][175][176].…”

“…This mineral is readily available in the very pure glaucophane schist of the Cycladic Blueschist Unit of the Hellenides and they outcrop on the islands of Siphnos and Syros and elsewhere in the Cycladic LTHP metamorphic zone, and indeed, the author has made a workable blue-grey pigment, very similar in colour to vivianite, from Siphniot glaucophane. In addition to Knossos, glaucophane has been proposed as a pigment at Thera and Pylos [173][174][175]. However, in all these studies, the presence of glaucophane has been predicated based on semi-quantitative major element analyses made by SEM-EDS.…”