Wall fragment decorated with a human figure (Cástulo, Linares, Spain)

Wall fragment decorated with a human figure from room 6 of building D in the Roman city of Cástulo (Linares, Spain). The analyses by MRS and EDXRF allowed to identify the use of hematite (Fe2O3) in the elaboration of the red background colour, goethite [FeO (OH)] in the yellow colour and calcite (CaCO3) in the white colour. Also for the white colour, microscopic inspection and EDXRF single-spot and surface analysis allowed visualization and analysis of blue nodules high in Cu. Egyptian blue mixed with calcite for a brighter shade of white thus becomes a strong hypothesis.

The analysis by MRS was not conclusive to identify the origin of the green color, however, the elemental composition obtained by EDXRF indicates a very low concentration of Na characteristic of green earth called celadonite. In this green earth, nodules of Egyptian blue have been identified (both by MRS and by the presence of Cu), which are usually common in the composition of this pigment.

New product

Dimensions

: 19 Centimeters

: 15 Centimeters

Materials

Painting

Temporal

: Roman

: Late 1st-2nd AD

Spatial

: Cástulo

: Linares, Jaén, Spain

: WGS84

 

Copyrights

Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)

References

Tuñón, J., Sánchez, A., Parras, D.J., Amate, P., Montejo, M., Ceprián, B. (2020): “The colours of Rome in the walls of Cástulo (Linares, Spain)”. Scientific Report, 10 (1):12739.

Castro, M. (coord.) (2014): Cástulo en movimiento: Avances del proyecto Forvm MMX (2011-2012). Revista Siete Esquinas, 6. Número monográfico

Digital Resources

  • Wall fragment decorated with a human figure Conjunto Arqueológico de Cástulo-Forum MMX

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Location of the main areas and cemeteries of Cástulo Conjunto Arqueológico de Cástulo-Forum MMX

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    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Building D and room 6 Conjunto Arqueológico de Cástulo-Forum MMX

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    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Raman spectrum of the yellow decoration Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Raman spectrum of the red decoration Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

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    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Raman spectrum of the white decoration Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Raman spectrum of Egyptian blue in the green decoration Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/
  • Elemental analysis by EDXRF. Mapping of Cu Instituto Univesitario de investigación en Arqueología Ibérica. Universidad de Jaén

    Creative Commons - Attribution, Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (BY-NC-ND)
    Arquiberlab
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

Activities

Archaeometric analysis

Physical-chemical analysis

Wall painting. Decoration analysis.

University Research Center for Iberian Archaeology

Raman Microscopy

Mineral analysis

Non destructive. Surface cleaning. Sample pretreatment is not required. Direct measurement.

Micro-Raman Spectroscopy (MRS)

Renishaw ‘in via’ Reflex Spectrometer coupled with a confocal Leica DM LM microscope (CICT, University of Jaén), equipped with a diode laser (785 nm, 300 mW), argon ion laser (514.5 nm, 25 mW) and a Peltier-cooled CCD detector, calibrated to the 520.5 cm-1 line of silicon.

X-Ray Fluorescence

Elemental analysis

Non destructive. Surface cleaning. Sample pretreatment is not required. Direct measurement.

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)

An energy dispersive X-ray microfluorescence spectrometer (M4 Tornado, Bruker) (CICT, University of Jaen). This spectrometer is equipped with a microfocus X-ray tube with an Rh anode, a polycapillary lens for X-ray focussing, and a 30-mm2 energy dispersive detector (SDD). The sample chamber incorporates an XYZ motorized stage for sample positioning. A high resolution microscope is used to position the sample on the desired distance from the polycapillary. To increase the sensitivity of the low Z elements, the sample chamber can be brought under vacuum. For the analysis of the samples, a spot size of 25 μm was chosen at an operating X-ray tube voltage of 50 kV and intensity of 600 μA. The tube current was adapted for each sample in order to optimise the detection of X-rays.

 

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