Search results for "Arche"

Joint Investigation with Ground Penetrating Radar and Infrared Thermography as a Diagnostic Support for the Restoration of Two Wall Mosaics in the Ch…

2022

The church of S. Mary of the Admiral in Palermo, known as “La Martorana” and very famous for its Byzantine mosaics, has been a World Heritage site since 2015. The mosaic system of the church includes several groups of figures and scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. From the western part of the ancient church only two mosaics survive, detached from their original position, and are now located in two internal chapels. On the occasion of several restoration works, these two mosaic panels were investigated with non-invasive techniques, in order to provide diagnostic support to the restoration and consolidation interventions. The investigations were aimed at detecting any air po…

Consolidation and protection by nanolime: recent advances for the conservation of the graffiti, Carceri dello Steri Palermo and of the 18th century l…

2014

Abstract Nanolime dispersed in 2-propanol was extensively used for the consolidation of wall paintings. The knowledge of the advances of this methodology dealing with all the possible effects associated with the nanolime new material in conservation is fundamental to assess and improve the technique. In this paper, four different dispersions of Ca(OH) 2 nanoparticles were characterised by Small Angle X-rays Scattering technique (SAXS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) in order to achieve information on size, shape, polydispersity, agglomeration, and crystal structure (by SAED patterns) of the particles. Once characterised, the dispersions were tested in two different case studies, …

Characterization of Iranian Moarraque glazes by light microscopy, SEM-EDX and voltammetry of microparticles

2008

Abstract Glazed ceramics have been traditionally used in Iran for decorating mosques and some civil historical buildings. In particular, Moarraque glazes have been extensively used in the indoor and outdoor decoration of mosques in Iran since the middle 14th century. The pieces have a complex elaboration based on a main glazed piece corresponding to the skeleton structure of the Shah Abbasi flower, which contains a number of holes, where are placed, mosaic-like, smaller glazed pieces forming a compact and single tile. The present work describes the analytical study performed on the glazes of several pieces of Moarraque tiles from the Ali Ebn Abi Taleb Mosque (Esfahan, Iran), which date back…

EDXRF analysis of blue pigments used in Valencian ceramics from the 14th century to modern times

2006

Abstract EDXRF analyses of cobalt-blue pigments were performed on 73 pieces of Valencian ceramics from the beginning of the 14th century up to the 20th century. In 67 of such samples, the pigment decoration was applied together with a tin opacified lead glaze cover on the clay body. In five samples the pigment was applied on the clay body without a glaze cover. The comparison between EDXRF spectra from coloured and non-coloured areas contains information about the pigment composition. Elements like Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and As are identified as characteristic of blue pigments; different associations of these elements were found and correlated with the chronology of the samples. The results…

Spectroscopic analysis used to uncover the original paint colour of the Helsinki Government Palace tower clock faces

2016

The paint stratigraphy of the two clock faces from the tower clock of the Government Palace in Helsinki (Finland) was analysed in order to determine their original colour before restoration works. Paint cross-section samples from both clock faces were analysed by confocal Raman microscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled to an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The results revealed the complex superimposition of paint layers applied over the original black colour. FTIR/ATR analyses proved that the original paint was prepared with linseed oil-resin media. Most likely not all of the different layer colours were visible. Some of the layers were likely to have been a primer…

Newly discovered orichalcum ingots from Mediterranean sea: Further investigation

2021

Abstract In February 2016, 47 ingots were found in the seabed of Contrada Bulala (Gela, CL, Italy) near the site where 40 ingots had previously been recovered. The ingots composition was determined to be a Cu - Zn alloy, dated by the archaeologist to the VI century B.C. This specific alloy was then known as Orichalcum. From an archaeological point of view, the first question raised about the new discovery was whether the ingots of the first and the second excavations belonged to the same shipwreck. Following the previous study, an elemental analysis was performed on the ingots from the second finding by using ICP-OS and ICP-MS techniques. The chemometric treatment of the analytical results …

Analyzing chemical changes in verdigris pictorial specimens upon bacteria and fungi biodeterioration using voltammetry of microparticles

2017

[EN] It is reported the application of the voltammetry of microparticles (VMP), complemented with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques, to monitor the deterioration of verdigris pictorial specimens under the action of different biological agents. This methodology would be of application for identifying the type of biological agent causing deterioration of paintings, which is an important problem affecting cultural heritage. The analysis of biodeterioration processes is complicated by the fact that the action of microorganisms can affect both pigment and binding media. The deteriorat…

Yasmina Wicks: Profiling Death. Neo-Elamite Mortuary Practices, Afterlife Beliefs, and Entanglements with Ancestors. (Culture and History of the Anci…

2020

mtDNA analysis of the human remains buried in the sarcophagus of Federico II

2005

Abstract The sarcophagus containing the remains of Federico II, located in the Cathedral of Palermo (Sicily, Italy), was opened on 1998 to perform a multidisciplinary survey [1]. Next to the remains of Federico II and in close contact with them were laying two other skeletons belonging, according to historical records, to Pietro II di Aragona and to an anonymous person (“The Third Individual”), probably a woman. The bones appeared severely deteriorated. Chemical analysis performed on bone samples excluded that the bodies underwent some kind of embalming process. The analysis of mtDNA from bone samples taken from the three skeletons was successful in only one of the two labs involved. The HV…

Biomolecular study of the human remains from tomb 5859 in the Etruscan necropolis of Monterozzi Tarquinia (Vitarbo, Italy)

2004

Abstract Archaeological excavation in an Etruscan room tomb, from the Monterozzi necropolis in Tarquinia led to the recovery of four individuals. It was hypothesized that they could be members of a single family group. As both archaeological data and classical anthropological analysis provided little information in this direction, ancient DNA (aDNA) was extracted from bone and tooth fragments of the individuals. For each subject HVR-I of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was cloned and sequenced. To identify the sex of the individuals, amelogenine and SRY genes were analysed. Short tandem repeat (STR) characterization was also performed. DNA studies were preceded by the evaluation of amino acid…