Investigations by Raman microscopy, ESEM and FTIR-ATR of wall paintings from Qasr el-Ghuieta temple, Kharga Oasis, Egypt

Abstract

In the present work, a multi-analytical approach was used to analyze samples collected from the wall paintings of Qasr el-Ghuieta temple, Kharga Oasis, Egypt. The temple is dating back to the 27th dynasty (525-404 BC) and was completed during the Ptolemaic period. The samples were analyzed by optical microscopy (OM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), Raman microscopy and Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). The chromatic palette used in the temple was identified as Egyptian blue (cuprorivaite), red ochre (haematite), yellow ochre (goethite) and carbon black (from a vegetable origin). The green pigment was identified as green earth, however, a green tonality was also obtained through a mixture of Egyptian blue and yellow ochre, and in some samples, carbon black was also found. Several amounts of anatase and carbon black were found in the red and yellow ochre samples, respectively. The analysis showed that the preparation layer is almost made of pure gypsum, while the plaster layer based mainly on gypsum with variable amounts of quartz, calcite and clay minerals. The results showed that the painting materials and techniques used in the temple are almost the same of those used in the Egyptian temples with respect to the stratigraphy of paint layers, chromatic palette and the painting technique employed.

Adsorption of Carbon Dioxide by Reusing Drinking Water Treatment Plant Sludge

“…It can be observed that the peaks at 790 and 679 cm -1 are most probably due to symmetric stretching of Si-O of kaolinite and quartz [49,50]. Peak at 522 cm -1 matches to that of Si-O-Al of kaolinite and quartz [48]. The peak at 452 cm -1 is assigned as Si-O-Al stretching vibration of kaolinite [50], while the band at 409 cm -1 in spectrum shows the presence of Si-OH wagging mode of silica [49].…”

“…The peaks at 1543 and 1458 cm -1 could be due to bending vibration of water molecules of silica [49]. The peak at 998 cm -1 is probably due to Si-O-Al stretching vibration, while at 910 cm -1 may indicate the presence of Al-O-H stretching vibration of kaolinite and red ochre [48]. It can be observed that the peaks at 790 and 679 cm -1 are most probably due to symmetric stretching of Si-O of kaolinite and quartz [49,50].…”

“…For amorphous silica, this peak occurs at approximately 1000 cm -1 . Spectral bands at peaks 3687 and 3620 cm -1 , corresponding to free hydroxyl ions of red ochre and kaolinite [48]. The peaks at 1543 and 1458 cm -1 could be due to bending vibration of water molecules of silica [49].…”

Characterization of a Greco-Roman Stucco Mask (Reg. No. 229) Preserved at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Cairo, Egypt

“…By comparing the functional groups of animal glue standard samples with the results of sample (3) of the used material in the adhesion and the reassembly of the mask, it became obvious that animal glue had been used to reassemble the studied mask. Also, comparing the functional groups of sample (1D) of the intact stucco sample proves that the stucco sample consists mainly of gypsum as a binding material [18][19][20] (Table 3 and Fig. 6).…”

Technical Study of Polychrome Arhat Figures Dated From the Song Dynasty(960-1279 CE) From the Lingyan Temple, Changqing, Shandong, China

“…Besides that, there was little scienti c analysis and research on the paint layers of arhat statues of Lingyan Temple. Complementary and multiple analytical techniques are widely used in the study of paint layers of painted cultural relics such as polychrome statues [4][5][6][7], mural paintings [8][9][10][11], painted pottery [12][13] and so on, which can successfully reveal the microscopic structure of paint layers, the composition of the pigment and the priming layers, the types of binding media found in paint layers, repair materials, and the paint stratigraphy. In this paper, multiple analytical techniques including ultra depth of eld 3D microscopy (OM), Micro-Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were selected to analyze the paint layers from the Bodhidharma statue.…”