History Through A Different Wavelength

The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences, 2018

This study examines how pXRF technology can further knowledge of Palaeolithic paintings through experimental analysis of degraded paints. An overview of current literature on EDXRF spectrometry and its utilisation in the study of Palaeolithic pigments displays that the technique’s current use is somewhat limited. This review also highlighted the effect of taphonomic bias in the archaeological record, and the reasons why counteracting this bias would be beneficial for the understanding and interpretation of Palaeolithic parietal art. Thus, an experimental investigation was undertaken in order to discern whether heavily degraded pigments were still detectable with a pXRF spectrometer. The pigment used was ochre, the most common colourant in Palaeolithic artworks, which derives its colour from iron oxides. Iron is accurately and reliably identifiable with EDXRF spectrometry, and therefore, it comprised the primary element of interest during this investigation. Both lipid and water-based paints were used, the latter at two different concentrations. Lipid-based paints were found to be unsuitable for reliable detection with the pXRF at degraded levels, but aqueous paints were reliably detectable when heavily eroded. These findings show that pXRF investigations in Palaeolithic contexts have the potential to combat the loss of artwork to unfavourable taphonomic conditions, widening the corpus of palaeoart available to researchers.

In Archaeological Chemistry VIII, 173-193. American Chemical Society., 2013

Scientific Reports, 2019

G. Festa, T. Christiansen, V. Turina, M. Borla, J. Kelleher, L. Arcidiacono, L. Cartechini, R.C. Ponterio, C. Scatigno, R. Senesi and C. Andreani The development of black inks has enabled writing to become an established method of communication in history. Although a large research effort has been devoted to the study of pigments and dyes used in ancient Egypt to decorate burial walls and furnishings, or to write on papyrus, to date little attention has been paid to the nature and technology of inks used on ritual and daily-use textiles, which may have fostered the transfer of metallic ink technology onto papyrus and parchment supports. We report about inks from 15th century BCE Egyptian textiles by combining non-invasive techniques, including ultraviolet (UV) reflected imaging, near-infrared reflectography (NIRR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and prompt-gamma-activation-analysis (PGAA). It is argued that the inks are related to the family of iron gall inks, whose introduction is commonly attributed to the third century BCE. This interpretation frames the technology of writing on fabrics, used by the ancient Egyptians, in a different time, thus providing new information on the genesis of mordant inks in the ancient Mediterranean cultures. We anticipate our study to be a starting point for further and more sophisticated investigations of textiles, which will clarify the origin of metallic ink in the ancient world.

Journal of Archaeological Science 40(2):1425-1434

Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) instruments have gained considerable attention within the archaeological community. Few other recent instrumental developments have generated such debate. Much of this debate, which is dominated by scepticism over analytical performance, has occurred in informal settings. Rather than judge the use of pXRF based on unpublished work and conference banter, we conducted an extensive literature review of peer-reviewed research that used this technology. Our focus is developing an understanding of how, where, and why pXRF is being used in archaeology. What interests us most are research designs into which only pXRF could be integrated and the new research approaches these instruments may facilitate. Trends that emerged from the literature are surprising. For example, only 43% of the archaeological “pXRF” papers actually involve handheld instruments. In addition, more than four-fifths of handheld pXRF in archaeology is apparently conducted in laboratory contexts. Only 3% has been conducted in a fieldhouse or on-site laboratory, and 15% at an excavation, on a survey, or inside a historic structure. Here we argue that, while the technical capability to analyse archaeological materials using portable instruments may exist, it is not necessarily true the methodological and theoretical frameworks are in place to allow such activities to be archaeologically successful and significant. Because handheld pXRF is uniquely suited to in situ analysis, we expect the first changes in methodological and theoretical approaches will involve space, context, and related frameworks.

An overview of the applicability of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) as a tool for non-destructive investigations of objects of art and archaeology is discussed. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a standard technique widely used and accepted by art historians, archaeologists, curators and conservators. Synchrotron radiation was applied for the analysis of photo graphic prints, liquid samples, glass artifacts and coins. Sixty one studies have been described in this paper with the basics and uses of XRF. Recent requirement is also mentioned about the XRF techniques in archaeological sciences.

Although numerous papyri from ancient Egypt have been collected and preserved over the centuries, the recipe used to prepare black inks was only reported in manuscripts from the late Greco-Roman period. Black inks were mostly obtained after mixing carbon black with a binder agent and water. In previous studies performed on black inks apposed on papyri from ancient Egypt, additional chemical elements such as lead, iron, or copper were also identified, and the resulting chemical contrast with the papyrus support was used to virtually decrypt highly degraded or rolled papyri. Combining a series of synchrotron-based techniques with Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we investigated 10 papyri fragments from J.-F. Champollion's private collection. For each fragment, the carbon-black pigment found in the ink is identified as flame carbon (lampblack or soot). Using Xray diffraction computed tomography, we show that the diffraction signal of the carbon-based pigment itself can be isolated. As a result, a contrast with the papyrus support is obtained, even in the absence of a specific chemical element in the ink. This is opening up new opportunities to decipher words written millennia ago, as part of our Cultural Heritage.

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2020

We present here our methodological approach applied to the study of Egyptian inks in Late Antiquity. It is based on an interdisciplinary strategy, bringing together a variety of disciplines from humanities and natural sciences, and it aims at systematically collecting a statistically relevant amount of data regarding the composition of the inks. The application of a well-established, non-invasive protocol that includes near-infrared imaging and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for in situ measurements enables the identification and characterisation of inks dating from the end of Late Antiquity onwards. However, sometimes this method limits our understanding when characterising more ancient inks. Trying to overcome these limitations, the potential of a new device for the characterisation of organic compounds is here explored by conducting preliminary tests on mock samples. In this work, we present the results from 77 codicological units that include some of the earliest manuscripts of...

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2014

Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometers are powerful tools if used appropriately. This paper discusses alternative and less conventional approaches in the application of these instruments.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 2001

This paper reports a study of colours and inks of an ancient Egyptian papyrus using an external proton microprobe in PIXE mode. Representing the Book of the Dead, this papyrus is dated from the 19th dynasty, New Kingdom (c.1295±1186 BC). Elemental maps were obtained by moving the papyrus under a ®xed focused external beam using a motorised support. The maps were compared to photographic pictures taken in visible light. Inks used in the hieroglyph text appeared to be based on carbon (black) and iron oxide (red). Coloured drawings illustrating the text showed a wider palette: hematite, ochre, orpiment, Egyptian blue, verdigris. Most intriguing was the observation in several parts of the drawing of a whitish pigment containing strontium. Deposits of strontium-rich minerals (e.g. strontianite, celestite) have been identi®ed in Egypt. The exact nature and the archaeological implications of this pigment have still to be determined. Finally, ®ne powder and coarse grains of arsenic oxide were observed, probably remaining from an early preservation treatment against insect attacks after excavation.