Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An integrated multimethodological approach for characterizing the materials and pigments on a sarcophagus in St. Mark, Marcellian and Damasus catacombs

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 18 December 2015

Abstract

The increasing interest and debate about the extent of the polychromy of ancient artefacts is generating more attention to the study of the traces of colour remaining on their surfaces. The small amount of these traces lead to a new approach for their characterization in order to limit sampling and hopefully avoiding it. The application of a protocol based on imaging techniques integrated with data obtained from single-spot techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) provides high-quality information about the materials. The integrated protocol has been applied in the study of a sarcophagus in San Callisto complex in Rome, and the efficacy of its use is confirmed by the data obtained. The sarcophagus, dating back to fourth-century C.E., is located in Saints Mark, Marcellian and Damasus catacombs. The study was focused on characterization of materials through a multidisciplinary approach with in situ non-invasive techniques (multispectral photography, visible-induced luminescence, XRF and FORS) and microinvasive analytical methods in order to identify the marble’s provenance through a consolidate multianalytical approach (X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, isotopic ratios). In situ analyses were conducted in critical environment due to the high humidity (RH = 100 %), low temperature (T = 15 °C) and high CO2 levels, all factors representing a challenge for either the operators or the electronic instrumentations. This work is included in a wider research project aimed to enlighten the use of colours on the sculptures in the roman time and to better define the composition of used raw materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D. Tapete, F. Fratini, B. Mazzei, E. Cantisani, C. Riminesi, R. Manganelli Del Fà, B. Sacchi, O.A. Cuzman, L. Scaletti, M.G. Patrizi, P. Tiano, in The Conservation of Subterranean Cultural Heritage, ed. by Saiz- Jimenez (Taylor & Francis Group, London, 2014), p. 51

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. A.N. Shugar, J.L. Mass, Handheld XRF for Art and Archaeology (Leuven University Press, Leuven, 2013)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Galeotti, R. Mazzeo, D. Pinna, Scientific Examination for the Investigation of Paintings: A Handbook for Conservator–Restorers (Centro Di, Florence, 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  4. M. Bacci, Chem. Anal. Ser. 155, 321–362 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  5. L. Lazzarini, Periodico di Mineralogia LXXIII(3), 113–125 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  6. C. Gorgoni, L. Lazzarini, P. Pallante, B. Turi, in ASMOSIA V, Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Stone, ed. by J.J. Herrmann, N.Herz, R. Newman (Archetype, London, 2002), pp. 115–131

  7. D. Attanasio, M. Brilli, N. Ogle, The Isotopic Signature of Classical Marbles (L’Erma di Bretschneider, Rome, 2006)

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. Amorfini, D. Attanasio, A. Bartelletti, M. Brilli, E. Cantisani, A. Criscuolo (2012) Ante et post Lunam, Archeologia dei marmi apuani, ed. by A. Bartelletti, (Pacini Editore, Ospedaletto, Pisa), pp. 79–95

  9. T. Vitorino, A. Casini, C. Cucci, M.J. Melo, M. Picollo, L. Stefani, in Image and Signal Processing, ed. by A. Elmoataz, O. Lezoray, F. Nouboud, D. Mammas (Springer, Berlin, 2014), pp. 257–264

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  10. C. Bisulca, M. Picollo, M. Bacci, D. Kunzelman, in Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Non-destructive investigations and microanalysis for the diagnostics and conservation of cultural and environmental heritage. http://www.ndt.net/article/art2008/papers/199Bisulca.pdf. Accessed 1 Aug 2015

  11. G. Verri, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 394, 1011–1021 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. P. Mirti, L. Appolonia, A. Casoli, R.P. Ferrari, E. Laurenti, A. Amisano Canesi, G. Chiari, Spectrochim. Acta A 51(3), 437–446 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. F. Antonelli, S. Columbu, M. Lezzerini, D. Miriello, Appl. Phys. A 115, 1033–1040 (2014)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Pliny the Elder Naturalis Historia, XXV, (Harvard University Press, 1980)

  15. F. Van Keuren, D. Attanasio, J.J. Jr Herrmann, N. Herz, P. Gromet, ed. by J. Elsner, J. Huskinson, (Millennium Studies 2010), pp. 149–187

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Chiara Boschi (IGG CNR) for supplying the isotopic data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICVBC-CNR Institute for Conservation and Valorization of Cultural Heritage, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Iannaccone Roberta, Bracci Susanna & Cantisani Emma

  2. Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra, Via Napoleone III 1, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Mazzei Barbara

Authors
  1. Iannaccone Roberta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bracci Susanna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cantisani Emma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mazzei Barbara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iannaccone Roberta.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roberta, I., Susanna, B., Emma, C. et al. An integrated multimethodological approach for characterizing the materials and pigments on a sarcophagus in St. Mark, Marcellian and Damasus catacombs. Appl. Phys. A 121, 1235–1242 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9495-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-015-9495-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation