Analysis of pigments and coverings by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro Raman spectroscopy (MRS) in the cemetery of Tutugi (Galera, Granada, Spain) and the settlement convento 2 (Montemayor, Córdoba, Spain)

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

“…The list of investigations on mural paintings in which the Raman spectroscopy played a role in the last decade is indeed gigantic: samples of plasters and pictorial layers taken from a fresco of Acireale cathedral (Barilaro et al); mural paintings by the Italian miniaturist Napoleone Verga (Rosi et al); polychromy of the decoration of the façade of the Palace of King Pedro I, Seville, Spain (López‐Cruz et al); Roman plasters of the ‘Domus Farini’ in Modena (Baraldi et al); Korean wall paintings (Mazzeo et al); pigments in the Cemetery of Tutugi, Galera, Granada, Spain and in the Settlement Convento 2, Montemayor, Córdoba, Spain (Parras‐Guijarro et al); pigments extracted from mural paintings in the Notre‐Dame Cathedral of Tournai, Belgium (Lepot et al) or in a medieval monastery of Karaach‐Teke, Varna, Bulgary (Zorba et al); roman wall paintings found in Verona (Mazzocchin et al); Byzantine wall painting complex in the Protaton Church on Mount Athos, Greece (Daniilia et al); and Roman plasters in Reggio Emilia (Baraldi et al).…”

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy on Iberian archaeological materials

“…Cinnabar is known to have been used in the Iberian peninsula in megalithic contexts [30] and for the decoration of Iberian sculptures of a highly symbolic value such as the Lady of Baza and the Lady of Elche. [2,31] The case under study here and the one from the cemetery of Tutugi [7][8][9] confirm that cinnabar was also used for decoration of the ceramic vessels of grave goods, which is further evidence of its exclusiveness. The mine of de Sisapo (Almadén, Spain) may have supplied most of the cinnabar used in the Iberian peninsula in the Prehistory and Protohistory, but two other possibilities may be considered for the cases studied here: the mountains of Baza and Las Alpujarras (both in the province of Granada) show cinnabar outcrops and are nearer the sites of Tutugi and La Noria.…”

“…Research is not limited to ceramics and includes other archaeological materials like decorated and undecorated coverings, glass paste and other stone items like sculptures and funerary urns. [7][8][9] The analysis of these materials is intended to cover a timeframe spanning from the 7th century BC as the founding stage of the Iberian culture to its decline in the 1st century BC. This paper brings together previous analyses [7][8][9] and accounts for the latest progress made by use of MRS in research on a variety of coverings and on decorated ceramics, especially on black decoration, whether alone or with grey and/or red decoration.…”

“…[7][8][9] The analysis of these materials is intended to cover a timeframe spanning from the 7th century BC as the founding stage of the Iberian culture to its decline in the 1st century BC. This paper brings together previous analyses [7][8][9] and accounts for the latest progress made by use of MRS in research on a variety of coverings and on decorated ceramics, especially on black decoration, whether alone or with grey and/or red decoration. Coverings and ceramics consist of the highest percentage of Iberian materials researched to this day.…”

Characterization of Synthetic Iron Oxides and their Performance as Support for Au Catalysts.

“…Therefore, we carried out a micro‐Raman analysis of this material and, for comparison, of FeOCb3. Micro‐Raman is a tool frequently employed for the investigation on iron oxide phases in iron ores,17 iron scale (rust),18 and iron oxide pigments 19. The Raman spectra of FeOCb3 and FeOCb4 in the range of the metalligand vibration (50–800 cm −1 ), which is diagnostic for the phase(s) in iron oxides, are shown in Figures 2 and 3 (a complete table of the observed peaks is available in the Supporting Information).…”