Identification of Pigments of Tal-e Mash Karim Wall Painting at the Chalcolithic Site of Iran

Authors

1 Conservation and Restoration of Historic Properties, Art University of Isfahan

2 Archeology, University of Tehran

3 Iranian Center for Archaeological Research

Abstract

There are few remains of Prehistoric murals in Iran. So, identification of pigments that were used in them is beneficial information for study of Prehistoric painting technology and method of Iran. The present study reports some of the resuls optainted from the application of different analytical techniques to characterize three pigments of Chalcolithic site of Tal-e Mash Karim, Central Iran. The characterization of the studied paintings was carried out by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector(EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Identification the main element of calcium and calcite crystal phase represents the white limestone for white coloring. XRD analysis and identification of hematite in red pigment, Indicated of the red ochre. Also, the FTIR analysis of black pigment indicates of application of coal ash in colors.

Keywords