Background
Thirty Years of Applied Science to the Iberian and Roman Heritage of the Alto Guadalquivir
The results of archaeometric research carried out at the University Research Institute for Iberian Archaeology of the University of Jaén (Spain) are the fruit of more than three decades of interdisciplinary work, marked by technical advances, international collaborations, and a constant expansion of scientific objectives.
Its origin dates back to 1990, when the idea arose to form a laboratory capable of applying chemical techniques to Archaeology, something then unusual in peninsular Protohistoric contexts. The proposal materialized in 1991 with the launch of a small laboratory at the University of Jaén, which began by applying analyses of phosphorus, carbohydrates, and fatty acids. Phosphorus analysis, in particular, proved to be a precise and reliable tool, which soon allowed it to be applied to Iberian sites such as the oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén) and the heroic sanctuary of El Pajarillo (Huelma, Jaén). Thanks to this technique, it was possible to delimit domestic and ritual areas with unprecedented clarity, providing spatial information that overcame the limitations of traditional excavation.
In the mid-nineties, with the laboratory already consolidated, a phase of thematic diversification began. Analyses were extended to ceramics, archaeological soils of different chronologies, and architectural coatings. In the same decade, a new line of work began to take shape: the analysis of organic contents in vessels.
The qualitative leap occurred at the beginning of the 21st century. At this point, the laboratory incorporated techniques that redefined its analytical capabilities: Raman micro-spectroscopy (MRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The combined use of MRS and XRD allowed for the characterization of raw materials, documenting pigment palettes in ceramics and coating materials consistent with available mineral resources and with well-defined technological traditions in the various Iberian settlements. Hematite, goethite, cinnabar, amorphous carbon, Egyptian blue, limestone, dolomite, and gypsum were identified as the main raw materials involved in the elaboration of Iberian pigments. Molecular analyses, for their part, revealed the presence of animal and vegetable lipids, beeswax, and compounds associated with ritual practices, such as native sulphur, in ceramic vessels, adding new dimensions to the functional and symbolic interpretation of these objects. These investigations not only expanded knowledge about Iberian technologies but also consolidated the laboratory's reputation.
Selection of analysed Iberian ceramics with red and black decoration. Manganese black: (a) La Noria (Fuente de Piedra, Málaga); (b) Puente Tablas (Jaén); (c–d) Las Calañas (Marmolejo, Jaén). Magnetite black: (e, f, h, i) Baécula (Santo Tomé, Jaén); (g) Cerro de Las Cabezas (Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real).
From 2010, a decade of scientific maturity began with the development of the Arquíberos (HAR2011-22994) and Arquiberlab (PAIDI HUM-7459) projects. The availability of portable equipment—especially Raman and XRF spectroscopy—made it possible to perform in situ studies, minimising the need for sampling and enabling the analysis of entire sets of objects and architectural structures. This stage marked the start of the Arquiberlab website and the definitive opening towards Roman contexts, where the laboratory applied the experience accumulated during the previous years and launched the Cástulo: archaeometric research and social transfer project (HAR2016-74917). In the Ibero-Roman city of Cástulo (Linares, Jaén), studies of the mural paintings in Building D revealed the use of a rich palette of pigments including cinnabar, Egyptian blue, green earths, litharge, goethite, and hematite, placing the decoration of Cástulo in a technical context comparable to that of other prominent cities of the Empire.
Pinturas murales de Cástulo (Linares, Jaén)
One of the most representative works of this stage was the study of the Mosaic of Los Amores, where more than six hundred tesserae were characterized using portable Raman and XRF spectroscopy. This analysis allowed distinguishing between stone and glass tesserae, identifying both chromophores and opacifiers in the latter. The interdisciplinary nature of this work was strengthened through collaboration with international specialists, especially from the Laboratory of Archaeometry at Ghent University.
The most recent stage, between 2020 and 2025, has been marked by the consolidation of a completely integral archaeometric approach. The incorporation of new techniques—micro-XRF, FT-IR, HPLC-MS, GC-C-IRMS—has allowed for detailed stratigraphic studies, the interpretation of thermal signals, the identification of complex biomarkers, and the reconstruction of alteration and use processes. This period culminates with the launch of the GeoChemMos Project (PROYEXCEL_00269), dedicated to the Roman mosaics of the Alto Guadalquivir. Its objective is to combine photogrammetry, Raman and XRF spectroscopies, and petrographic analyses to understand workshop techniques, the provenance of the tesserae, the circulation routes of raw materials, deterioration processes, and to promote the enhancement of this important archaeological heritage.
Mosaics of Cástulo (Linares, Jaén). Above: Detail of the Mosaic of the Loves. Below: In situ analysis of the Mosaic of the Octagons.
Overall, the evolution of this line of research between 1990 and 2025 shows a sustained progression from an experimental laboratory to a reference center, structured around the constant integration of new technologies and scientific collaborations with external institutions. The study of Iberian contexts has allowed for the reconstruction of technological, economic, and ritual practices in enormous detail, while the research in Roman contexts has revealed the sophistication of the workshops and the complexity of the material heritage of the Alto Guadalquivir.
The Arquiberlab Website
The Arquiberlab website is a continuously growing, open-access repository. Its constant genesis and evolution are underpinned by the research team's intention to make the results of analyses carried out on a wide variety of materials available to the public, complemented by digital resources (photos and 3D models) and descriptions of their archaeological contexts through links to reference works.
The information has been structured into two sections: one related to Iberian materials and one to Roman materials. In each of the sites, various materials have been selected (ceramics, coatings, sculptures, stone, and glass tesserae) on which chemical analyses related to the decoration and raw materials used in their elaboration have been carried out. The results are presented, supported by graphs and data tables, and images of the archaeological contexts, geographical location of the site, and relevant links are provided. The description of the technical parameters and equipment used in the analyses are also included.
Research Results
JCR Publications
Parras Guijarro, D., Montejo Gámez, M., Ramos Martos, N., & Sánchez Vizcaíno, A. (2006). 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). Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 64, 1133–1141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2005.11.035
Parras Guijarro, D. J., Vandenabeele, P., Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Montejo Gámez, M., Moens, L., & Ramos Martos, N. (2010). Micro-Raman spectroscopy of decorated pottery from the Iberian archaeological site of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain, 7th–4th century B.C.). Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 41, 68–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.2405
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Tuñón, J., Montejo-Gámez, M., & Parras, D. (2012). Micro Raman spectroscopy (MRS) and energy dispersive x-ray microfluorescence (μEDXRF) analysis of pigments in the Iberian cemetery of Tutugi (from the fourth to the third century bc, Galera, Granada, Spain). Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 43, 1788–1795. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.4080
Parras, D. J., Sánchez, A., Tuñón, J. A. Rueda, C., Ramos, N., García-Reyes, J. F. (2015). Sulphur, fats and beeswax in the Iberian rites of the sanctuary of the oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 4, 510-524 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2015.10.010
Tuñón, J. A., Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Parras Guijarro, D. J., Vandenabeele, P., & Montejo Gámez, M. (2016). Micro-Raman spectroscopy on Iberian archaeological materials. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 47, 1514–1521. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.4934
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Tuñón, J. A., Montejo-Gámez, M., Parras-Guijarro, D. J., Lechuga, M. Á., & Ceprián, B. (2019). MRS, EDXRF and GC–MS analysis for research on the ritual and funerary areas of Cerro de los Vientos (Baeza, Jaén, Spain): Native and Eastern Mediterranean influences. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 28, 102026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.102026
Rousaki, A., Costa, M., Saelens, D., Lycke, S., Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Tuñón, J. A., Ceprián, B., Amate, P., Montejo, M., & Vandenabeele, P. (2020). A comparative mobile Raman study for the on-field analysis of the Mosaico de los Amores of the Cástulo Archaeological Site (Linares, Spain). Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 51, 1913–1923. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5624
Tuñón, J. A., Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Parras Guijarro, D. J., Amate, P., Montejo Gámez, M., & Ceprián, B. (2020). The colours of Rome in the walls of Cástulo (Linares, Spain). Scientific Reports, 10, 12739. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69334-y
Costa, M., Rousaki, A., Lycke, S., Saelens, D., Tack, P., Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Tuñón, J. A., Ceprián, B., Amate, P., Montejo-Gámez, M., Mirão, J., & Vandenabeele, P. (2020). Comparison of the performance of two handheld XRF instruments in the study of Roman tesserae from Cástulo (Linares, Spain). European Physical Journal Plus, 135, 647. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00635-x
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Tuñón, J. A., Montejo-Gámez, M., Amate, P., Ceprián, B., Rousaki, A., Costa, M., Saelens, D., Lycke, S., & Vandenabeele, P. (2021). First insights into the archaeometric analysis of the Los Amores Mosaic in Cástulo (Linares, Spain): The Judgement of Paris. Heritage Science, 9, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00483-7
Vico, L., Tuñón, J. A. Sánchez, A., Gámiz, J., Moreno, M., Contreras, F. (2022). MRS, µEDXRF and FTIR-ATR analysis of white paste inlays in Bronze Age pottery from the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula: The case of Peñalosa (Jaén, Spain), Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 43, 103458, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103458
Sánchez, A., Montejo, M., Tuñón, J.A., & Parras, D.J. (2025). Ochre for the Iberians. A review on characterisation and interpretation through spectroscopic techniques. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 67, 105427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105427
Sánchez, A., Montejo, M., Tuñón, J., Vandenabeele, P., De Gea, G., Gutiérrez, M., Vico, L., Martínez, R. (2025). Raman analysis of Roman mosaics from the Upper Guadalquivir Valley (Spain). Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 56, 1279–1295. https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.6794
Books and chapters
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Parras, D., Ramos, N. (2011). Análisis químico de contenidos en recipientes cerámicos. En C. Rueda (Ed.), Territorio, culto e iconografía en los santuarios iberos del alto Guadalquivir (ss. IV a.n.e.– I d.n.e.) (pp. 221–226). Universidad de Jaén.
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Parras Guijarro, D. J., Tuñón López, J. A., Montejo Gámez, M., & Ramos Martos, N. (2014). Análisis de recubrimientos y pigmentos en la necrópolis ibérica de Tútugi (Galera, Granada). En M. O. Rodríguez-Ariza (Ed.), La necrópolis ibérica de Tútugi (2000–2012) (pp. 349–368). Universidad de Jaén.
Sánchez, A., Parras, D. J., Tuñón, J. A., Rísquez, C., Rodríguez, Mª O., Montejo, M., Ramos, N., García, J. F. y Márquez, F. (2014). Physical-chemical analysis for the research and the valorisation of the oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain). En M. A. Rogerio (Ed.), Science, Technology and Cultural Heritage (pp. 103-108). CRC Press/Balkema. Taylor & Francis Group.
Sánchez, A. Parras, D. J., Tuñón, J. A. Ramos, N. y García-Reyes, J. F. (2015). Determinación y caracterización físico-química de contenidos y sedimentos en “Las Cortinas”. En I. Pavón, D. Duque & I. Rodríguez (Eds.), El Tiempo del Tesoro de Aliseda II. Aproximación a su contexto arqueológico (pp. 219–231). Universidad de Extremadura.
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Montejo-Gámez, M., Parras-Guijarro, D., Tuñón López, J. A., Gutiérrez Rodríguez, M., & Cañabate Guerrero, M. L. (2024). El laboratorio de análisis químico-físicos del IUIAI: Génesis, evolución y líneas de investigación. En A. Ruiz & M. Molinos (Eds.), Arturo C. Ruiz Rodríguez y la arqueología ibera en Jaén. Homenaje (pp. 123–130). Universidad de Jaén.
Proceedings
Sánchez, A., Parras, D., Montejo, M., & Ramos, N. (2007). Microscopía Raman en dos contextos arqueológicos de época orientalizante e ibérica. En J. Molera, J. Farjas, P. Roura & T. Pradell (Eds.), Avances en Arqueometría 2005 (pp. 175–182). Universitat de Girona.
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Parras, D., Montejo, M., & Ramos, N. (2008). Análisis físico-químicos en las casas 6 y 7 del asentamiento ibérico de Puente Tablas, Jaén. En S. Rovira, M. García-Heras, M. Gener & I. Montero (Eds.), VII Congreso Ibérico de Arqueometría (pp. 601–610). CSIC.
Sánchez Vizcaíno, A., Montejo Gámez, M., Parras Guijarro, D., Tuñón López, J. A., & Ramos Martos, N. (2011). Investigación sobre el patrimonio arqueológico de los íberos mediante análisis físico-químicos. Actas del Congreso de Patrimonio, 2408–2414.