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Palaeolithic painting matter: natural or heat-treated pigment?

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Abstract

Analyses of archaeological materials attempt to rediscover the know-how of Prehistoric men by determining the nature of the matter, its preparation mode, and its geographic origin. The preparation mode of painting matter of Palaeolithic rock art consisted not only in mixing and grinding but also in heat-treatment. Palaeolithic painters used two main colors: red (iron oxide, hematite) and black (charcoal or manganese oxide).

The different phases of manganese oxides can be distinguished using their elemental composition, their structure and the oxidation state of the Mn ion (II, III, IV). Their transformation during heat-treatment has been studied on mineralogical reference samples by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) either coupled or not with a heating stage (in situ). These studies have enabled us to understand the transformation mechanisms of manganese oxides and also to gain insights into the preparation procedures of painting materials during the Palaeolithic period.

The painting samples studied in this paper come from the cave of Lascaux (Dordogne, France). These studies allow us to distinguish between natural or heat-treated manganese oxides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 171 du CNRS, Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Palais du Louvre, Porte des Lions, 14 quai F. Mitterrand, 75001, Paris, France

    E. Chalmin, C. Vignaud & M. Menu

  2. Laboratoire Interfaces et Systèmes Electrochimiques, UPR 15 du CNRS, Université P. et M. Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75252, Paris, Cedex 05, France

    C. Vignaud

  3. Laboratoire des Géomatériaux, Université de Marne la Vallée, 5 boulevard Descartes, Champs sur Marne, 77454, Marne la Vallée, Cedex 2, France

    E. Chalmin

Authors
  1. E. Chalmin
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  2. C. Vignaud
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  3. M. Menu
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Correspondence to E. Chalmin.

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PACS

61.14.-x; 61.50.Ks; 64.40.-i; 68.37.Lp; 89.90.+n

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Chalmin, E., Vignaud, C. & Menu, M. Palaeolithic painting matter: natural or heat-treated pigment?. Appl. Phys. A 79, 187–191 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-2542-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-004-2542-0

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