The Tomb of the Diver and the frescoed tombs in Paestum (southern Italy): New insights from a comparative archaeometric study

Abstract

The Tomb of the Diver has been subject for many decades of fierce debate among archaeologists and classicists. Since its discovery in 1968, some scholars have considered it a unique example of the lost tradition of Greek painting, others have emphasized Etruscan or Italic parallels. More recently, a possible local production has been suggested. With the aim of trying to solve the archaeological question, an archaeometric comparison among this well-known artwork and several frescoed tombs coming from Hellenistic and Lucan necropolis was carried out. The multi-analytical study was focused on the identification of peculiar features of executive techniques and raw materials since the first period of the archaeological site. The analytical investigation has been preliminary based on a non-destructive approach, performed in-situ by portable equipment including imaging diagnostics and compositional spectroscopic techniques for identifying pigments and the conservation state of original painted surface; subsequently, a further deepening by using destructive techniques was performed in-lab for the mortar-based supports characterization. Archaeometric study suggested that technological choices slightly changed in a time span of about two centuries, highlighting important markers that allow clustering the contemporary artistic productions.

Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Fly Ash: From Waste to Cement Manufacturing Resource

“…In addition, the sulphate peaks can be seen at 2232 cm −1 and 2112 cm −1 ; in the double peak at 1150 cm −1 and 1120 cm −1 , caused by asymmetric “stretching” in the S-O bond; in the shoulder at 1010 cm −1 ; and in the peak at 673 cm −1 , caused by the “bending” of the S-O bond. The intense peaks at 1684 cm −1 and 1620 cm −1 are due to the “bending” of the O-H bonds [ 60 , 61 ]. In the clinker spectrum, the peaks at 1100 cm −1 , 922 cm −1 and the shoulder are usually assigned to C2S and C3S in the literature [ 62 , 63 ].…”

A Multi-Analytical Study for the Enhancement and Accessibility of Archaeological Heritage: The Churches of San Nicola and San Basilio in Motta Sant’Agata (RC, Italy)

“…For this purpose, it is important to point out that all of the output was delivered and made available to the Municipality of Reggio C., which is going to develop a website and an app involving other archaeological sites. These, with the help of VT, aim to assist the process of learning and the dissemination of information related to the area [69].…”

In situ Raman spectroscopy for cultural heritage studies

“…In situ Raman spectroscopy analysis seems a preferable approach when it comes to the overall characterization of wall paintings (in combinations or alone). [18,21,22,30,[63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71] Perardi et al [72] discussed the application of a transportable Renishaw RA 100 micro-Raman spectrometer for the characterization of pigments and decaying products of paintings from the St. Orso Priory palace in Aosta, Italy. Barone et al [73] combined two mobile Raman systems, one dual-532 and 785-nm laser system and a 1064-nm laser spectrometers on the Sala Vaccarini frescoes in Catania, Italy.…”