Micro-attenuated total reflection spectral imaging in archaeology: application to Maya paint and plaster wall decorations.
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.
Goodall
Rosemary A
RA
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. r.goodall@student.qut.edu.au
Hall
Jay
J
Sharer
Robert J
RJ
Traxler
Loa
L
Rintoul
Llew
L
Fredericks
Peter M
PM