Search results for " XRF"

Decorated pottery study: Analysis of pigments by x-ray absorbance spectroscopy measurements

2007

Characterization of pigments on decorated pottery fragments has been fully carried out by nondestructive x-ray absorbance spectroscopy (XAS). The samples were a series of pottery shards excavated from the archeological site of Caltagirone (Sicily, Italy), a well-known ceramic production center. Aesthetical criteria and morphological observations allowed us to attribute the samples to quite different historical periods, starting from the 18th century B.C. up to the 16th century A.D. An extensive time interval led us to suppose that different materials and techniques were used for the production of the ceramic paste and also for the preparation of pigments. XAS measurements were performed at …

Ethnoarchaeometric Study of the Traditional Cooking Ware Production Centre of Pabillonis (Sardinia): Investigating Raw Materials and Final Products

2010

Ethnoarchaeometry can be used to test assumptions in ceramic provenance studies. Within the Late Roman Cooking Wares (LRCW’s) commercialised in the Western Mediterranean some fabrics such as Fabrics 1.2, 1.6/1.7 and 1.9 (Fulford and Peacock, 1984) have been proposed to have a Sardinian origin. This motivated a specific project to explore the nature of cooking pottery on the island and the raw clays as well as the production technologies that have been used traditionally for their manufacture. In this paper, the traditional cooking pottery making in Pabillonis (Oristano province) was studied. First, a field survey in the area of Pabillonis was undertaken in order to locate the raw materials …

Degradation of stone materials in the archaeological context of the Greek-Roman Theatre in Taormina (Sicily, Italy)

2010

In the present work results on the degradation phenomena of stone materials in the Ancient Theatre of Taormina, one of the most important Greek–Roman monuments of Sicily, are reported. Artificial stone materials in different conservation conditions were investigated. Samples of salt efflorescences from brick walls and degraded setting mortars were taken from the open gallery in “summa cavea”. The chemical, physical and structural characterization was performed by means of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), both in situ and ex situ. Results showed that the deterioration of stone materials is due to the aggressive action of the enviro…

A group of metals from the Bronze Age village of l’Arbocer (Font de la Figuera, Valencia)

2005

In this paper, we present a study of a group of cooper and bronze objects that were found by chance in the Bronze Age village of L’Arbocer (Font de la Figuera, Valencia). The main aims are the description of the objects and the results of the X Ray Fluorescence analyses. Moreover; a short fieldwork season has been carried out, which has allowed us to determine the archaeological context of the metals and to establish their connection with a possible area of metallurgical activity. The village of L’Arbocer is located on the border of the provinces of Valencia, Alicante and Albacete. This is very interesting in helping us to evaluate the presence of a possible metallurgy workshop and its chro…

I ‘vasi di Centuripe’: per un approccio integrato

2017

Il contributo intende evidenziare le prospettive di un approccio interdisciplinare integrato allo studio della ceramica policroma “di Centuripe”. Dagli inizi del XX secolo, tale classe ha riscosso ampio apprezzamento per le sue delicate pitture e la ricchezza di ornamenti a rilievo applicati (dipinti e dorati) che abbelliscono i vasi, rendendoli pressoché inutilizzabili nella pratica per scopi funzionali, ma altamente efficaci come doni funerari in antico, e oggi come pezzi di grande impatto per commercianti di antichità e collezionisti moderni. Data la piaga, diffusa fino a tempi recenti, degli scavi clandestini, dei “restauri” arbitrari e delle falsificazioni, i vasi di Centuripe necessit…

Indagini Scientifiche

2019

In questo contributo sono riportati i risultati della campagna diagnostica effettuata sul dipinto murale “Atelier“, opera giovanile di Antonio Sanfilippo (1923-1980), ritrovato sotto una scialbatura che, sebbene lo abbia nascosto, allo stesso tempo lo ha preservato.

La produzione di ceramica da mensa a Solunto: un esempio di continuità tecnologica dallʼetà arcaica a quella ellenistico-romana.

2009

Solunto is one of the most important Phoenician-Punic colonies of north-western Sicily. Archaeometric researches carried out in the last years ascertained a local production of transport amphorae during Archaic and Classic age (7th-5th century B.C.) through mineralogical, petrographical and chemical analysis of ceramic samples, kiln refuses and local raw materials (clays and alluvial sands). In connection with these earliest works, the present paper was focused on some specific forms of fine-tempered table ware of Archaic age and/or Classic-Hellenistic age. This pottery has been recurrently brought to light in Solunto and it is furthermore suspected to be, at least to some extent, a local r…

Investigation of composition of archeological Helmets, type Montefortino

2019

In this work, a preliminary non invasive and non destructive investigation, performed on two helmets, is presented.

Non-invasive characterization of archaeological polychrome pottery and metallic artefacts: advantage and limits of XRF in situ analysis

2014

Le indagini scientifiche per lo studio e la conservazione dei beni culturali : un approccio analitico integrato, la conoscenza dei materiali costitut…

2019

The icon Virgin Hodegetria, now in Santa Maria Nuova Cathedral in Monreale near Palermo (Italy), probably dates from the beginning of thirteen century could be considered one of the earliest examples of medieval icon in Sicily. The icon is distinguished from other southern icons by the strong Byzantine matrix and by its size (169x131x3 cm). Since 2015, the icon is part of the Arab-Norman Palermo UNESCO Heritage. This paper will deal with historical and scientific investigations on the icon to better understand the painting materials, the executive technique and to resolve question about on-going restoration in planning a complex conservation project. Examination of the icon was both non-inv…