Micro‐Raman spectroscopy of decorated pottery from the Iberian archaeological site of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain, 7th–4th century B.C.)

Abstract

In this paper, Raman spectroscopy is used for the first time to identify the pigments on decorated antique Iberian pottery. Ceramic fragments of type Real and others from the archaeological excavation in the oppidum Puente Tablas were examined. Different types of iron oxide pigments (hematite and goethite) were identified, along with amorphous carbon. In some samples, the presence of chalk or gypsum could be demonstrated. Some unattributed Raman bands are believed to be associated either with post-burial organic deposition or with silicate materials that are present in red ochre. It was possible to relate the findings with geological data from the region and to make assumptions on a local production.

Recent advances in linear and nonlinear Raman spectroscopy. Part V

“…Parras et al . used micro‐Raman spectroscopy to study decorated pottery from the Iberian archeological site of Puente Tablas (Jaen, Spain, 7th–4th century bc ) It was possible to relate the findings with geological data from the region and to make assumptions on a local production. Two pairs of hand‐painted Japanese folding screens were analyzed by Pessanha et al .…”

A non-destructive spectroscopic study of the decoration of archaeological pottery: from matt-painted bichrome ceramic sherds (southern Italy, VIII-VII B.C.) to an intact Etruscan cinerary urn

“…More recently, the use of other spectroscopic techniques has been developed, among others micro-Raman spectroscopy [8,[17][18][19][20][21], X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) [15][16][17]21], X-ray absorption (XAS and XANES) [5,22], particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) [23] and laserinduced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) [24]. On the methodological side the interest in applying such spectroscopic techniques is mainly related to the possibility of a non-destructive and/or compound-specific analysis.…”

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

“…It is important to note that this is not a real ‘Raman identification’ because these are very strong photoluminescence bands of Cr 3+ ions, always present in the alumina crystals. Another very common pigment, especially in nonglazed pottery, is carbon black; apart from the many attempts to differentiate the origin of carbon by the D and G carbon bands in the Raman spectra, the presence of the phosphate Raman band (around 960 cm −1 ) typical of apatite helps to distinguish between ‘bone black’ and other kind of carbonaceous materials . However, this method should be applied very carefully, because the strong and broad carbon bands could hide the peak of a minor phosphate phase.…”