Titre du document / Document title

X-ray techniques applied to surface paintings of ceramic pottery pieces from Aguada Culture (Catamarca, Argentina)

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

BERTOLINO Silvana R. ^{(1 2)} ; GALVAN JOSA Victor ⁽¹⁾ ; CARRERAS Alejo C. ^{(2 3)} ; LAGUENS Andrés ^{(2 4)} ; DE LA FUENTE Guillermo ^{(2 5)} ; RIVEROS José A. ^{(1 2)} ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ FaMAF, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Medina Allende s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, ARGENTINE
⁽²⁾ CONICET, AV Rivadavia 1917, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINE
⁽³⁾ INTEQUI, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, San Luis, ARGENTINE
⁽⁴⁾ Museo de Antropología. FFyH, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, H. Irigoyen 174, Córdoba, ARGENTINE
⁽⁵⁾ Escuela de Arqueología, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, Campus Universitario s/n, Belgrano N° 300, Catamarca, ARGENTINE

Résumé / Abstract

X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), x-ray imaging (XRI) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques were applied to characterize and differentiate surface paintings of archeological pottery from the Aguada Ambato and Portezuelo styles (Catamarca, Argentina). Standard procedures are not always appropriate for such samples (paint layers are porous, nonplanar and discontinue). Image processing is necessary when chemical contrast is not discriminated. Soft x-ray lines (e.g. Fe L) are more revealing because those detected come from shallower depths, clearly depicting the composition of the paint layer. These styles differ in mineralogy and chemistry suggesting that they are two distinctive entities not only on their designs but also on the materials chosen and the technology used. Aguada Portezuelo paints contain Ca (white), Fe-Mn (black), Fe-Mn-Ca (dark reddish) and Fe-Ca (reddish). The white ones correspond to gehlenite, a firing product (possible firing temperature ≥900-1000 °C); calcite and CaO occur in cases of firing temperatures <900 °C. Aguada Ambato presents difficulties for paint discrimination; only EDS spectra show slight differences. White paint from Tricolor Ambato contains mainly Pb-phases (hatchite, anglesite, plumalsite), reddish paint resembles the paste (∼Fe, hematite); reddish surfaces may have not been painted but polished. Black paint has scarce Mn-minerals. On Black Incised sherds no particular phase was identified suggesting possible organic pigments or resulting from the firing technique. The chemistry and mineralogy of the paste almost always overlap that of the paints: painted layer is irregular and partially worn by years of burial.

Revue / Journal Title

X-ray spectrometry   ISSN 0049-8246   CODEN XRSPAX 

Source / Source

2009, vol. 38, n^o2, pp. 95-102 [8 page(s) (article)] (27 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Wiley, Chichester, ROYAUME-UNI  (1972) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

America ; South America ; Pigments ; Hematite ; Calcite ; Paint ; Pottery ; Overlap ; Image processing ; Scanning electron microscopy ; Imaging ; Dispersive spectrometry ; Energy dispersion ; X ray diffraction ; Argentina ; Archaeology ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Amérique ; Amérique du Sud ; Pigment ; Hématite ; Calcite ; Peinture ; Poterie ; Chevauchement ; Traitement image ; Microscopie électronique balayage ; Formation image ; Spectrométrie dispersive ; Dispersion énergie ; Diffraction RX ; Argentine ; Archéologie ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

America ; America del sur ; Pigmento ; Hematites ; Calcita ; Pintura ; Alfarería ; Imbricación ; Procesamiento imagen ; Microscopía electrónica barrido ; Formación imagen ; Espectrometría dispersiva ; Dispersión energía ; Difracción RX ; Argentina ; Arqueología ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 15634, 35400018541731.0030