Characterization of Pigments

Abstract

Pigments are among the most distinctive elements of archaeological and cultural heritage materials. For decades, the characterization of ancient pigments was an important target for many researchers. The characterization is usually performed using invasive and noninvasive techniques. Many techniques are used for this purpose, for example optical microscopy, the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (μ‐XRF), visible reflectance spectroscopy (VRS), micro‐Raman and FT‐IR/ATR spectroscopies. These techniques allow the examination of stratigraphy, morphology, and chemical and molecular composition of the paint layers. The data obtained from the analytical methods help in drawing an image of ancient materials and technologies.