Field Raman analysis to diagnose the conservation state of excavated walls and wall paintings in the archaeological site of Pompeii (Italy)
This work presents the results of field Raman analyses, assisted by a hand-held energy dispersive-X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, to experimentally determine the composition of compounds present in the walls and wall paintings of two Pompeian houses, one with many luxurious decorative elements (the House of Marcus Lucretius, Regio IX, Insula 3, House 5/24) and a more modest building (Regio IX, Insula 3, House 1–2). These houses were excavated 150 years ago, and the majority of the rooms have been exposed outdoors. The chemical attacks of the acid gases and the biological colonisation can be considered the most serious problems of the archaeological remains from Insula IX 3 of Pompeii. The …
A compact and portable laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument for single and double pulse applications
Abstract We present LIBS experimental results that demonstrate the use of a newly developed, compact, versatile pulsed laser source in material analysis related to art and archaeological applications in view of research aiming at the development of portable LIBS instrumentation. LIBS qualitative analysis measurements were performed on various samples and objects, and the spectra were recorded in gated and non-gated modes. The latter is important because of advantages arising from size and cost reduction when using simple, compact spectrograph-CCD detection systems over the standard ICCD-based configurations. The new laser source exhibited a very reliable performance in terms of laser pulse …
In situ analysis with portable Raman and ED-XRF spectrometers for the diagnosis of the formation of efflorescence on walls and wall paintings of the Insula IX 3 (Pompeii, Italy)
This work presents the results of field Raman analyses, assisted by a hand-held energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, for the experimental determination of efflorescence from walls and wall paintings of two Pompeian houses, one with many luxurious decorative elements (House of Marcus Lucretius, Regio IX, Insula 3, House 5/24) and a more modest building (Regio IX, Insula 3, House 1-2). Both exposed and protected rooms were measured in different year seasons, spring (May 2010) and summer (September 2011 and 2012) and considering different orientations. Chemical attacks of acid gases (CO2, SO2 and NOx) on the original compounds of the mortars, biominerals formed by the biological …