A Multi-Analytical Approach for the Characterisation of Pigments from an Egyptian Sarcophagus Cover of the Late Dynastic Period: A Case Study

Chiara Andrea Lombardi, Valeria Comite, Paola Fermo, Andrea Bergomi, Luca Trombino and Vittoria Guglielmi ()
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Chiara Andrea Lombardi: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Valeria Comite: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Paola Fermo: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Andrea Bergomi: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Luca Trombino: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “Ardito Desio”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
Vittoria Guglielmi: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-1

Abstract: This work is concerned with a multi-analytical identification of the colour palette utilised in the decoration of the cover of an Egyptian sarcophagus dated to the Late Dynastic Period and belonging to a private collection. In this study, six different points were analysed with a portable Raman spectrometer; then, in these same points, six micro-fragments were taken from the sarcophagus for laboratory analysis performed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXS), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and visible induced luminescence imaging (VIL). Raman spectra collected in situ showed the characteristic bands of calcite, red ochre and black carbon. SEM-EDXS analyses highlighted the presence of a copper-based pigment in the light blue, blue and black fragments; then, the ATR-FTIR spectrum of the light blue sample only displayed the peculiar bands of Egyptian blue. The latter result was confirmed by VIL analysis, which successfully identified the same pigment in blue-black fragments as well, leading to the possible authentication of the finding. Moreover, the presence of calcite, red ochre, green earth and some organic material was assessed by FTIR spectroscopy, confirming some of the results of in situ Raman analyses. Regarding organic materials, whose investigation is still ongoing, some hypotheses were made on the basis of their FTIR spectra.

Keywords: Egyptian coffin; pigments; Raman spectroscopy; SEM-EDXS; ATR-FTIR; VIL (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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