Identification of organic material in Los Buitres 1 rock art shelter, Badajoz, Spain.

Abstract

El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido caracterizar la naturaleza química y mineralógica del pigmento empleado en los motivos esquemáticos prehistóricos de la cueva de Los Buitres 1 (Capilla, Badajoz), y tratar de identificar la presencia de materia orgánica en su composición. Para ello se han realizado análisis de espectroscopia Micro-Raman y ATR-FTIR sobre cuatro muestras de pigmento, tres de pigmento rojo y una más también roja, aunque de tonalidad más oscura. Se aplicó la espectroscopia Micro-Raman para determinar la composición mineralógica de las muestras seleccionadas, mientras que el ATR-FTIR se aplicó para determinar la presencia de materia orgánica presente en cada una de ellas. Destacar que las muestras 1 y 2 son casi idénticas y registraron la presencia de montmorillonite. Por su parte, los análisis por ATR-FTIR señalaron la presencia de componentes orgánicos en la muestra 3, mientras que la muestra 4 se caracterizó como ocre oscuro quemado. La comparación con los pigmentos empleados en el arte rupestre esquemático de un abrigo cercano, en donde han sido identificados los mismos componentes orgánicos en similares tipologías figurativas, invita a considerar la posibilidad de que nos encontremos con una suerte de “receta” para preparar el pigmento que debió estar en uso en este territorio durante un periodo cronológico concreto.

Archeometrical Characterization of Rock Art Pigments from Puerto Roque Open-Air Rock Art Shelter (Valencia De Alcantara, Extremadura, Spain)

“…Although in the area of Spanish Extremadura, organic compounds in schematic art paintings have already been identified in other shelters previously [15,16], it is noteworthy that within the realm of studies focusing on rock art pigments, the identification of organic binders remains a rare occurrence when employing the aforementioned techniques. This observation accentuates the prevailing dominance of inorganic components and the products of deterioration in the composition of these artistic materials.…”

“…While numerous studies aimed at comprehending this distinctive style of rock art studies have been conducted since the early 20th century, commencing with the work of Henri Breuil, it is noteworthy that only in recent times have archaeometric investigations been applied to rock art sites in this region [13][14][15][16][17].…”

Archeometrical Characterization of Rock-Art Pigments from Puerto Roque Open-Air Rock Art Shelter (Valencia De Alcantara, Extremadura, Spain)

“…Although in the area of Spanish Extremadura, organic elements in schematic art paintings have already been identified in other shelters previously [15,16] it's noteworthy that within the realm of studies focusing on rock art pigments, the identification of organic binders remains a rare occurrence when employing the aforementioned techniques. This observation accentuates the prevailing dominance of inorganic components and the products of deterioration in the composition of these artistic materials.…”

“…This array includes several typologies of figures, notably "ramiforms" (a preferred Iberian term for what is also described as a tree-like linear motif), circular-shaped figures, lines, and anthropomorphic representations (see Figure 3). While numerous studies aimed at comprehending this distinctive style of rock art have been conducted since the early 20th century, commencing with the work of Henri Breuil, it is noteworthy that only in recent times have archaeometric investigations been applied to rock art sites in this region [13][14][15][16][17].…”