Non-invasive Analyses of Ancient Ceramics Colorants

• Main Authors: Igor Lukačević, Dragana Rajković
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Chemical Society 2015-03-01
• Series: Croatica Chemica Acta
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/205140

Present research exploits the benefits of the non-invasive and non-destructive spectroscopic methods in order to characterize the pigments which constitute the colorants found on ancient ceramic pieces. A red colorant, which occurs on the outer surfaces of the ceramic pieces excavated from archaeological finding sites Čepin-Ovčara and Kneževi Vinogradi-Osnovna škola and in earth piece from Aljmaš- Podunavlje locality was analyzed. Using the UV-Vis FORS and Raman spectroscopy, red colorant is found to be red ochre. Raman spectrum of red ceramic colorant agrees with the spectrum of the colorant from the earth piece, leading to the conclusion that the Neolithic culture living in today Slavonija and Baranja region used the same colorants for decorating their ceramics as other nearby Neolithic cultures of Pannonian Basin. Black colorations are found to be made of soot.