title: Micro-attenuated total reflection spectral imaging in archaeology: application to Maya paint and plaster wall decorations.
abstract: Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) imaging has been successfully used to identify individual mineral components of ancient Maya paint. The high spatial resolution of a micro FT-IR-ATR system in combination with a focal plane array detector has allowed individual particles in the paint to be resolved and identified from their spectra. This system has been used in combination with micro-Raman spectroscopy to characterize the paint, which was found to be a mixture of hematite and silicate particles with minor amounts of calcite, carbon, and magnetite particles in a sub-micrometer hematite and calcite matrix. The underlying stucco was also investigated and found to be a combination of calcite with fine carbon particles, making a dark sub-ground for the paint.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. r.goodall@student.qut.edu.au
authors.forename: Rosemary A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Goodall
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sharer
authors.forename: Loa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Traxler
authors.forename: Llew
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rintoul
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fredericks