The first direct evidence of pre-columbian sources of palygorskite for Maya Blue

Arnold, Douglas N.; Bohor, B. F.; Neff, Héctor; Feinman, Gary M.; Williams, Patrick Ryan; Dussubieux, Laure; Bishop, Ronald L.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.02.036

Cited by 34 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This is expected because it is well known that the Maya used palygorskite from this area to produce Maya blue (Arnold et al . 2012). The sample from Jiupetec belonging to the colonial period is similar to this group too, considering the R ‐value obtained.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystal–chemical and diffraction analyses of Maya blue suggesting a different provenance of the palygorskite found in Aztec pigments*

et al. 2021

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Maya blue is a pigment found in different archaeological sites of different cultures from Mesoamerica, and also in colonial buildings in Mexico and Cuba. The pigment is made from a thermally treated mixture of indigo and palygorskite. Pigment samples from Aztec and non‐Aztec archaeological sites as well as reference Yucatecan palygorskites were studied in this paper to assess their differences. The characterization of the samples was carried out by a combination of a crystal–chemical‐point analyses using electron microscopy to obtain the structural formulae of the palygorskite crystals, and studied using high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction. The data show evidence that the palygorskite used by non‐Aztec cultures, such as the Maya, is compatible with palygorskite from known sources in the Yucatan Peninsula, while the palygorskite used by the Aztec culture is different in its structure and has an origin that is still unknown.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystal–chemical and diffraction analyses of Maya blue suggesting a different provenance of the palygorskite found in Aztec pigments*

et al. 2021

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“…Third, the description of the texotli in the Florentine Codex is brief and lacks precision, being in line with the fact that Maya Blue was, in all likewood, not manufactured in the center of Mexico during the Late Postclassic. The painters of the Nahua codices possibly provided themselves with this prized blue from the Maya area through trade or tribute (Milbrath and Peraza Lope 2003:30, 35, 41), for the major deposits of palygorskite are located in the Sierra de Ticul (López et al 2005:26–27; Ortega 2003:11), in northern Yucatán, a region that was also engaged in a large-scale indigo production during the sixteenth century (Arnold 2005; Arnold et al 2012; Ruz 1979; Torres 1988). Last but not least, in the Florentine Codex chapter on colors, the texotli is described just before another ambiguous material called tecozahuitl , a word that designated some hybrid organic-inorganic colors made of clay and yellow dyes.…”

Section: Colorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Materiality of Color in Pre-Columbian Codices: Insights From Cultural History

García

2017

Ancient Mesoam

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This article explores the materiality of the colors of some Nahua codices from pre-Columbian Mexico, comparing data obtained from two bodies of evidence: scientific investigation—through macroscopic inspection and physicochemical studies—and historical accounts. In doing so, this article shows that the Colonial period literature contributes to the understanding of the creation process of the codices and their chromatic palettes, in particular regarding some coloring materials, the identification of which still remains a challenge for scientists. The comparison carried out in this article also elucidates certain aspects of the historical texts on Mesoamerican colors, which were previously poorly understood or misinterpreted.

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“…The plant contains an indoxy glucoside called indican, which is converted to indigo in the process. Palygorskite from Yucatán mines, which are thought to be source for making Maya blue in pre-Columbian times, is white in colour (Arnold et al 2012). Briefly, the structure of palygorskite can be characterized as ribbons of continuous tetrahedral and discontinuous octahedral that are joined by Si-O-Si bonds from which nanopores are formed along the fibre axis (Kuang et al 2004).…”

Section: Maya Bluementioning

confidence: 99%

Non-invasive Spectroscopic Investigation of a Sixteenth-Century Polychrome Aztec Picture Map on Deerskin

Stanley

2015

Restaurator. International Journal for the Preservation of Library and Archival Material

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Princeton University Library's rare sixteenth-century polychrome Aztec picture map on deerskin vividly portrays the conversion of the Aztecs to Catholicism during the Early Colonial Period of the Spanish Conquest. A non-invasive technical examination was conducted to identify the colourants and the species of the animal hide support used in the creation of the map. Analysis included spectroscopic techniques such as attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Light microscopy and UVA fluorescence were also employed as tools. Results of the technical examination found the presence of cochineal, bone black, Maya blue, which are indigenous colourants traditionally associated with Mesoamerica, and a layer of an unknown greenishyellow dye over Maya blue to create the colour green. The examination also discovered what appears to be an orange-yellow gamboge-like substance known as American (sometimes called Mexican) gamboge, which is indigenous to Mexico and parts of Central and South America. Its plant family is Hypericaceae, which is very closely related to Clusiaceae. Clusiaceae is the Southeast Asian and Indian plant family of gamboge, which is commonly used as a pigment in Western, Indian and Asian art. The study's exposure of the obscure substance may spur more research into its use as a colourant of the Mesoamerican palette. The paper also hopes to add to the overall knowledge of Mesoamerican materials in order to better understand aspects of their conservation and preservation.

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The first direct evidence of pre-columbian sources of palygorskite for Maya Blue

Cited by 34 publications

References 39 publications

Crystal–chemical and diffraction analyses of Maya blue suggesting a different provenance of the palygorskite found in Aztec pigments*

Crystal–chemical and diffraction analyses of Maya blue suggesting a different provenance of the palygorskite found in Aztec pigments*

The Materiality of Color in Pre-Columbian Codices: Insights From Cultural History

Non-invasive Spectroscopic Investigation of a Sixteenth-Century Polychrome Aztec Picture Map on Deerskin

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